California Plant Identification
From the giant redwoods of the north coast to the acres of wild poppies in many regions, California's climate allows for the growth of thousands of species and hybridized plants. Many specimens grow wild. Some are cultivated. Others frame the homes of the rich and famous. Home gardeners and hikers may be familiar with these, but few residents have likely seen such rarities as the spidery pink blooms of Calliandra eriophylla, also known as "fairy duster" or "false mesquite." Does this Spark an idea?
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Native Plants
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Towering giants can be viewed at Redwood National Park in Humboldt County. Year round, California boasts trees, shrubs and flowers in spectacular variety. More than 8,500 native plants grow from the chaparral to the seashore. Prominent among them are: Siskiyou County's Pacific silver fir, which grows to over 160 feet, California live and scrub oaks, the western dogwood, the California buckeye, junipers, mesquite and the Joshua tree. Many types of agave, verbena, wild onion, manzanita, sage, larkspur and other perennial herbs and shrubs can be found there as well.
Non-Native Plants
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Bougainvillea spectabilis is a non-native prolific shrub in California. More than 2,000 types of other plants now make their home in California. Common non-native notables include: the purple blooms of the jacaranda and the majestic date palm, the Bird of Paradise plant, European smoke tree, Deodar Cedars, Italian cypress, several pine and fruit trees, 350 types of grasses and more than 800 perennial herbs.
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Climate
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Several species of the ceanothus shrub are native to California. California's broad range climate accounts for the variety of plants able to grow in the state. Droughts and flooding are extremes that will eradicate or enhance entire plant populations. Shorelines change during winter storms and coast fog remains of key importance to the health of the heavily forested northern areas.
Water
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Yucca comes in several natural forms. Crescent City has received as much as 85 inches of rain per year, while Death Valley might get 2 inches. Though much of the rainfall flows out to the Pacific, a portion of it accumulates in rivers, lakes, streams and marshes. Rainfall is critical to determining what grows consistently across the state. Plants at Mt. Shasta obviously have different water needs than those in the desert at Indian Wells. The famous citrus, artichoke and garlic farmlands in central California have been deeply affected by drastic variations in rainfall over the years. Some plants have become nearly extinct due to water shortages.
Noxious Plants
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Thistle is considered a noxious weed in California. The Calflora website lists 288 species of noxious plants, 95 percent of them non-native, and many of them considered invasive weeds. Some of these are beautiful: the butterfly bush, ice plant and night jessamine. Pampas grass, thistle, ivy, brooms, the common reed and the Monterey Pine are also among the undesirables.
Discovery
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Regional nurseries, botanists and plant societies offer information for anyone interested in discovering more about and identifying regional plants. Ideal places to visit include state and national parks, Huntington Botanical Gardens near Pasadena, the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the gardens at the University of California-Davis and UC-Berkeley. Guided tours as well as booklets and identification plates can help visitors learn as much as they would like about California plant life.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit california poppy image by wilmar huisman from Fotolia.com redwood sun image by Dennis Carrigan from Fotolia.com bougainvillea image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com ceanothus image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com yucca image by photlook from Fotolia.com thistle image by Paul Knott from Fotolia.com
