Plant Species in the Santa Monica Mountains
The Mediterranean biome in the Santa Monica Mountains includes:
- Chaparral
- Oak savannah
- Grasslands
- Riparian
- Coastal sage
- Intertidal
Over 1,000 plant species provide habitat for approximately 500 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species. The Santa Monica Mountains have been heavily affected by grazing, logging, dams and water diversions, and intensive agriculture and urbanization, as well as competition by numerous introduced or exotic plant and animal species.
- Mediterranean-type climate occurs roughly between 30° and 40°
- Occurs on the west coasts, where there are cold ocean currents.
- It is characterized by wet winders, and long, dry summers.
- Total annual precipitation ranges between 15 and 40 inches per year.
- Temperatures are moderated by maritime influence and fogs.
- It has a very limited growing season.
- The Mediterranean biome is characterized by shrubs.
- These shrubs are evergreen and have small, leathery leaves.
- Sometimes the leaves are so reduced as to appear needle-like.
Tree species are in bold. Read about each plant at the USDA Plant Database.
Latin name |
Common name |
Checklist |
Fraxinus velutina |
Arizona ash |
|
Salix lasiolepis |
arroyo willow |
|
Arctostaphylos glauca |
big berry manzanita |
|
Acer macrophyllum |
big leaf maple |
|
Ceanothus megacarpus |
big pod ceanothus |
|
Convolvulus arvensis |
bindweed |
|
Brassica nigra |
black mustard |
|
Juglans californica |
black walnut |
|
Rubus ursinus |
blackberry |
|
Pteridium aquilinum |
bracken fern |
|
Umbellularia californica |
California bay |
|
Scirpus californicus |
California bulrush |
|
Eschscholzia californica |
California poppy |
|
Artemisia californica |
California sagebrush |
|
Eriogonum fasciculatum |
California wild buckwheat |
|
Ricinus communis |
castor bean |
|
Typha latifolia |
cat tail |
|
Adenostoma fasciculatum |
chamise |
|
Yucca whipplei |
chaparral yucca |
|
Quercus agrifolia |
Coast live oak |
|
Rhamnus californica |
coffee berry |
|
Cuscuta sp. |
dodder |
|
Sambucus mexicana |
elderberry |
|
Penstemon heterophyllus |
foothill penstemon |
|
Vulpia myuros var. hirsute |
foxtail fescue |
|
Populus fremontii |
Freemont cottonwood |
|
Ribes californicum |
hillside gooseberry |
|
Prunus ilicifoli |
holly leaf cherry |
|
Marrubium vulgare |
horhound |
|
Castilleja sp. |
Indian paintbrush |
|
Malosma laurina |
laurel sumac |
|
Lupinus sp. |
lupine |
|
Cercocarpus betuloide |
mountain mahogany |
|
Toxicodendron diversilobum |
poison oak |
|
Opuntia littoralis |
prickly pear cactus |
|
Solanum xanti |
purple nightshade |
|
Quercus dumosa |
scrub oak |
|
Foeniculum vulgare |
sweet fennel |
|
Platanus racemosa |
sycamore |
|
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
toyon |
|
Nicotiana glauca |
tree tobacco |
|
Quercus lobata |
valley oak |
|
Salvia apiana |
white sage |
|
Marah macrocarpus |
wild cucumber |
|
Avena fatua |
wild oats |
|
Rosa californica |
wild rose |
|
Mimulus brevipes |
yellow monkeyflower |
|