Our Plants (List)

This little sunflower is encountered almost exclusively on Mt Diablo, at the very northern tip of the Diablo Range in Contra Costa County. As an aside, Mt. Diablo is home to many unique plant species and is always worth a visit. Another two examples of Mt Diablo endemics are the…

The common sun rose is one of California’s miracle plants that thrives and blooms generously in some of our harshest environments. One often encounters it along crest trails in exposed sunny sites from the SF Bay Area to San Diego County, and in the central Sierra Nevada. Locally, it can…

The widespread sunflower family is represented in California by plants of varied forms. Some grow as large woody shrubs (e.g. Baccharis). Others hug the ground as little perennials (e.g. Antenarria). California sunflower is one of the larger and distinct sunflowers. Following winter dormancy (no above ground growth), stems emerge with…

The salt heliotrope is a peculiar little plant. It occurs in a wide variety of plant communities in California and beyond, from coastal wetlands to the arid deserts. The little white flowers bloom in a row on a curved inflorescence, looking something like the suckers on an octopus’ tentacle. The…

Cow parsnip grows throughout much of the US. In California it prefers coastal and mountainous settings in the northern half of the state. Wherever found, it makes a bold display of large deeply lobed leaves and a tall flower stock topped by an umbel of tiny white flowers. Swallowtails and…

This rare cypress is native to the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains from Butano Ridge to Bonny Doon. So far only five groves have been identified. It is the only species of cypress found within its range. However, California’s cypresses are difficult to differentiate from one another so…

Tecate cypress is native to a few locations in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. It is considered a relic species from a cooler, moister period, and struggles with the frequent fires of it mountainous growing sites. It quickly grows in an upright form to about 15 feet, becoming…

Guadalupe Island lies about 250 miles from Baja, Mexico. Because of the moderating effects of the Pacific, the summer’s are more mild than on the mainland, resulting in a Mediterranean climate pattern. This tiny island is in fact the southern limit of that climate pattern on the West Coast (although…