Our Plants (List)

This large camas grows in moist areas of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades and northern coast ranges. From a rather large, smooth bulb It grows as a clump of basal, lance-shaped leaves, looking much like grass. In spring a tall flower stem arises with multiple violet-blue flowers. After dropping seed in…

The camas lily grows in moist settings in the mountains of Northern California on into the Northwest and Alberta, Canada. In moist meadows it may form extensive colonies. Like other members of the agave family (alternately, the lily family), it grows as a rosette of strap-like leaves after emerging from…

This robust sedge is found in many plant communities throughout California, generally in partial shade with moisture for most of the year. The blade is long and often draping. The flower is interesting for a sedge but rather rare. Santa Barbara sedge normally expands by rhizomes to fill the available…

Dense sedge grows in most of California’s mountain ranges except those of the southeastern deserts. It prefers seasonally moist areas at low to mid-elevations. Dense sedge grows as an expanding clump of dark green leaves. The spring flower stems have the angles edges typical of sedges (“sedges have edges”). The…

Torrent sedge grows in and near waterways throughout much of California. Not surprising, it is excluded from the dry southeastern quadrant of the state. Following winter dormancy, torrent sedge grows in typical sedge fashion – as an expanding bunch of bright green, arching blades. Over time, the bunch can be…

Dune sedge is an occasional member of coastal plant communities from Santa Barbara County north. It grows in an expanding clump of soft blades to about 8 inches in height. In its natural setting, dune sedge will go largely dormant during the dry season. With the first soaking rain new…

The meadow sedge is widespread in California and beyond. It is native to Santa Clara County – and every other county of the SF Bay Area. Unlike its look-alike dune sedge, Carex pansa, it grows in a range of habitats with at least seasonally high levels of moisture. Meadow sedge…