List of flora of the Santa Monica Mountains facts for kids

The Santa Monica Mountains are a special mountain range in Southern California. They are part of a larger natural area called the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, which is known for its unique plants. In these mountains, you'll find two main types of plant areas:

• Along the coast, there's a plant community called coastal sage scrub.
• As you go higher into the mountains and away from the coast, you'll see chaparral and California oak woodlands. These areas are filled with different kinds of plants and trees.

Discovering the Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains are home to hundreds of different plant species. Some of these plants are found nowhere else in the world, making them very special! Others are beautiful California native plants that grow naturally here. You might even recognize some of them from gardens, as they are used as ornamental plants. The look of the mountains changes with each season as different plants bloom and grow.

Monocots: Plants with One Seed Leaf

Monocots are a group of plants that have seeds with only one "seed leaf" (cotyledon). They often have long, narrow leaves with parallel veins, like grasses. Here are a few interesting monocots you might find:

• Agavaceae family:
  • Hesperoyucca whipplei (Chaparral Yucca, Our Lord's Candle) is a tall, striking plant with a flower stalk that looks like a giant candle.
• Amaryllidaceae family:
  • Dipterostemon capitatus (Blue Dicks) are small, pretty blue flowers that pop up in spring.
• Iridaceae family:
  • Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue Eyed Grass) isn't a true grass, but it has lovely blue-purple flowers with bright yellow centers.
• Liliaceae family:
  • Chlorogalum pomeridianum (Soap Plant) gets its name because its bulb can be used to make soap!
  • Lilium humboldtii (Humboldt's Lily) is a beautiful, tall lily with orange spotted flowers.
• Orchidaceae family:
  • Epipactis gigantea (Stream Orchid) is a rare orchid that grows near water.
• Poaceae (Grass) family:
  • Nassella pulchra (Purple Needlegrass) is the official state grass of California. It's an important plant for the ecosystem.

Dicots: Plants with Two Seed Leaves

Dicots are another big group of plants, and their seeds have two "seed leaves." Their leaves often have veins that branch out, and their flowers usually have petals in groups of four or five.

Here are some dicots you might see:

• Aizoaceae family:
  • Carpobrotus edulis (Ice Plant) is a common plant, but it's actually an invasive plant that can take over native plant areas.
• Anacardiaceae (Sumac) family:
  • Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac) and Rhus integrifolia (Lemonadeberry) are common shrubs.
  • Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poison Oak) is a plant to be careful around! It can cause a skin rash if you touch it.
• Apiaceae (Carrot) family:
  • Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) is a very poisonous plant. It's important to know what it looks like and never touch or eat it.
  • Foeniculum vulgare (Sweet Fennel) smells like licorice and is often seen along roadsides.
• Asteraceae family (Sunflowers and Daisies):
  • Artemisia californica (California sagebrush) is a fragrant shrub that gives the hills their distinct smell.
  • Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Brush) is a very common shrub.
  • Centaurea melitensis (Yellow Star Thistle) is another invasive plant that can spread quickly.
• Brassicaceae (Mustard) family:
  • Brassica nigra (Black Mustard) is an invasive plant that covers many hillsides in spring.
• Cactaceae family:
  • Opuntia littoralis (Prickly Pear Cactus) is a cactus with flat, paddle-like stems and often yellow flowers.
• Crassulaceae family:
  • Dudleya pulverulenta (Chalk Dudleya) is a succulent plant with powdery white leaves.
• Ericaceae (Heath) family:
  • Arctostaphylos glandulosa (Manzanita) is a beautiful shrub with smooth, reddish bark.
• Fabaceae (Pea) family:
  • Lupinus spp. (Lupines) are colorful wildflowers that come in many shades of blue, purple, and yellow.
• Lamiaceae (Mint) family:
  • Salvia apiana (White Sage) and Salvia mellifera (Black sage) are fragrant native sages.
  • Salvia columbariae (Chia) is the plant whose seeds are used in healthy drinks!
• Onagraceae family:
  • Zauschneria californica (California Fuchsia) has bright red-orange flowers that attract hummingbirds.
• Papaveraceae (Poppy) family:
  • Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) is the state flower of California, known for its bright orange color.
  • Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy) has large, beautiful white flowers with a yellow center.
• Polygonaceae family:
  • Eriogonum crocatum (Conejo Buckwheat) and Eriogonum cinereum (Coastal Buckwheat) are special plants that are found only in this area (endemic).
• Ranunculaceae family:
  • Delphinium cardinale (Scarlet Larkspur) has striking red flowers.
• Rhamnaceae family:
  • Ceanothus megacarpus (Bigpod Ceanothus) is another plant that is found only in the Santa Monica Mountains (endemic).
  • Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry) is a common shrub with dark berries.
• Rosaceae (Rose) family:
  • Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon) is a shrub with bright red berries in winter, also known as California Holly.
  • Rubus ursinus (California Blackberry) produces tasty berries.
• Saxifragaceae family:
  • Ribes amarum (Bitter Gooseberry) is another plant found only in this region (endemic).
• Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family:
  • Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkeyflower) has bright orange flowers that look a bit like a monkey's face.

Trees of the Mountains

The Santa Monica Mountains are also home to several important tree species that form woodlands and provide homes for wildlife.

• Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf Maple) has large, beautiful leaves that turn yellow in the fall.
• Juglans californica (California Black Walnut) is a native walnut tree.
• Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak) is a very common oak tree with dark, evergreen leaves.
• Platanus racemosa (California Sycamore) often grows near streams and has distinctive peeling bark.
• Umbellularia Californica (California Bay) is an evergreen tree with fragrant leaves.

See also

• Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
• California chaparral and woodlands
• California coastal sage and chaparral sub-ecoregion
• Coastal sage scrub plant community
• California montane chaparral and woodlands sub-ecoregion
• California Native Plant Society