Northern coastal scrub facts for kids

Northern coastal scrub is a special type of natural area found along the Pacific Coast. It's a "plant community," which means it's a group of plants that grow together in the same place. This scrubland is full of low-growing shrubs and other plants.

You can find Northern coastal scrub in California and Oregon. It stretches from a place called Point Sur in central California all the way up to southern Oregon. It often grows right next to another plant community called coastal prairie, creating a mix of different landscapes.

What is Northern Coastal Scrub?

Northern coastal scrub is a type of scrubland. A scrubland is an area where the main plants are shrubs. These shrubs are usually not very tall. In this community, most plants are "evergreen," meaning they keep their leaves all year round.

Why is it Important?

This plant community is an important part of the coastal environment. It provides homes and food for many animals. It also helps to prevent soil from washing away, especially on hillsides near the ocean.

Plants of the Northern Coastal Scrub

The Northern coastal scrub is home to many interesting plants. Most of them are low shrubs and smaller plants called herbs. Herbs are plants that don't have woody stems above ground.

Common Shrubs

Some of the most common shrubs you might see include:

• Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis)
• California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum)
• Coast silk-tassel (Garrya elliptica)
• Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
• Yellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus)

Other Plants

Besides shrubs, there are also many beautiful herbaceous plants. These include:

• Western blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
• Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana)
• Many types of

These plants are all adapted to live in the coastal environment. This means they can handle things like salty air and strong winds.