Natives

Other Native Plants
Found on Santa Cruz Island
This page includes some of the plants that grow on Santa Cruz Island but are also found in other parts of California.

Note: "s." denotes subspecies, and "v." denotes variety. Distribution information from "A Flora of Santa Cruz Island" Steve Junak et al. Copyright Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & California Native Plant Society 1995.

Click on a photo to see a large version!

Three mariposa lilies. These are the three plants in the genus Calochortus (in the Lilly family) that grow on Santa Cruz Island.

Fairy lantern or Globe Lilly (Calochortus albus).	Catalina mariposa (Calochortus catalinae).	Yellow mariposa (Calochortus luteus).
Santa Cruz Island habitats: mostly on north-facing slopes in chaparral, coastal scrub, oak woodland and pine forest. Other islands: Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina. Mainland: from the San Francisco Bay region and Sierra Nevada foothills to Southern California.	Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy hillsides, rocky slopes, costal scrub and grasslands. Other islands: It also grows on Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina Islands. Mainland: San Luis Obispo County to Southern California.	Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy hillsides, rocky flats, costal scrub and grasslands. Other islands: Santa Catalina. Mainland: from Northwest California to San Luis Obispo County.

Stream orchid
(Epipactis gigantea)
is in the Orchid family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: stream banks, freshwater seeps, costal scrub and riparian areas.

Other islands: None

Mainland: from British Columbia to Mexico and east to South Dakota to Texas.

California buttercup
(Ranunculus californicus)
is in the buttercup family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy hillsides, costal scrub, grasslands, oak woodland and pine forest.

Other islands: San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.

Mainland: from southern Oregon to Baja California.

A close-up of the California Buttercup.

Humboldt's lily
(Lilium humboldtii s. ocellatum)
is in the Lily family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, shaded north-facing slopes, creek banks, chaparral, costal scrub, oak woodland and pine forest.

Other islands: Santa Rosa and Anacapa islands.

Mainland: from Oregon to Baja California.

A close-up. Notice the small "skipper" (related to moths and butterflies) on the flower.


Giant Coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) is in the Sunflower family. Santa Cruz Island habitats: rocky bluffs and canyon walls in chaparral, costal scrub and riparian woodland.	Other islands: all the California Channel Islands, Guadalupe Island off Mexico Mainland: a few coastal locations from San Luis Obispo County to around the Los Angeles County/Ventura County line.	A Close-up of the flower.

Fringed Linanthus
(Linanthus dianthiflorus)
is in the Phlox family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal flats, grassy hillsides, rocky slopes, exposed ridgetops, costal scrub and grasslands.

Other islands: Santa Catalina Island and the Los Coronados Islands off Mexico.

Mainland: from Santa Barbara County to Baja California.


Johnny jump-up (Viola pedunculata) is in the Violet family. Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy north-facing hillsides, rocky slopes, coastal scrub and grasslands.	Other islands: Santa Rosa, Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands. Mainland: from the Northern California coast ranges to Baja California.

Gum plant
(Grindelia camporum v. bracteosum)
is in the Sunflower family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy flats and slopes, ridgetops, disturbed sites, chaparral, and grasslands.

Other islands: all of the California Channel Islands except Santa Barbara and San Clemente.

Mainland: costal California.

Cudweed-aster
(Lessingia filaginifolia)
is in the Sunflower family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: dry sandy washes, floodplains, rocky slopes, costal bluffs, costal scrub and grasslands.

Other islands: all the California Islands except Santa Barbara and San Clemente.

Mainland: from Oregon to Baja California.

Indian pink
(Silene laciniata s. major)
is in the Pink family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, rocky north-facing slopes, chaparral, costal scrub, grasslands, oak woodland and pine forest.

Other islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Anacapa and San Clemente Islands, plus Los Coronado Island in Mexico.

Mainland: coast ranges of Monterey County to north Baja California

California wild rose
(Rosa californica)
is in the rose family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: north-facing slopes, canyon bottoms, stream banks, costal scrub, oak woodland, pine forest and riparian communities.

Other islands: Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina Islands.

Mainland: from southern Oregon to Baja California.


Canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides) is in the sunflower family. Santa Cruz Island habitats: mostly on shaded north-facing slopes, chaparral, oak woodland and pine forest.	Other islands: Santa Rosa. Mainland: from Monterey County to northern Baja California


Silver Lupin (Lupinus albifrons v. douglasii) is in the Pea family. Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, creekbeds, floodplains, rocky slopes, chaparral, costal scrub, oak woodland and riparian communities.	Other islands: all of the California Channel Islands except Santa Barbara and San Clemente. Mainland: from San Francisco Bay area to Santa Barbara County.


Chaparral lotus (Lotus grandiflorus v. grandiflorus) is in the Pea family. Santa Cruz Island habitats: floodplains, open flats, rocky slopes, exposed ridgetops, chaparral, costal scrub, pine forest, riparian communities.	Other islands: Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina Islands, and Guadalupe Island off of Mexico. Mainland: throughout much of California west of Sierra Nevada to Baja California.


Wood-mint/hedge nettle (Stachys bullata) is in the mint family. The island plants have larger, non-aromatic leaves compared to those on the mainland. Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, rocky slopes, canyon bottoms, floodplains, chaparral, costal scrub, oak woodland and riparian communities.	Other islands: Santa Rosa and Anacapa Mainland: San Francisco Bay region to Orange Co.

Owl's clover
(Castilleja densiflora)
is usually placed in the figwort family, but it will probably be reclassified.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy flats and hillsides, coastal scrub and grasslands.

Other islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa and San Nicolas.

Mainland: Northern California coast ranges to northern Baja California.

Coastal prickly pear
(Opuntia littoralis v. littoralis)
is in the Cactus family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: rocky south-facing slopes, open ridgetops, grassy hillsides, costal bluffs, chaparral, coastal scrub and grasslands.

Other islands: All Californica Channel Islands, plus Los Coronados and Todos Santos Islands off Mexico.

Mainland: Santa Barbara County to Northern Baja California.

California poppy
(Eschscholzia californica)
is in the poppy family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, rocky slopes and canyon bottoms, floodplains, coastal scrub and grasslands.

Other islands: All California Channel Islands except Anacapa and Santa Barbara (introduced on San Nicolas and San Clemente). Also on Los Coronados, Todos Santos and Guadalupe islands off Mexico.

Mainland: Southern Washington to northern Baja California.


Sticky sand-verbena (Abronia maritima) is in the Four O'Clock family. It is found on most of the Channel Islands and on the mainland from San Luis Obispo to Northern Baja California.	A close-up of the the flowers.

Beach primrose
(Camissonia cheiranthifolia s. cheiranthifolia)
is in the Evening Primrose family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: sandy beaches and dunes and dune communities.

Other islands: All California Channel Islands except Anacapa and Santa Catalina.

Mainland: southwest Oregon to Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County

Prostrate coastal goldenbush
(Isocoma menziesii v. sedoides)
is in the sunflower family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, beaches alluvial fans, coastal scrub, coastal strand and grasslands.

Other islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Anacapa.

Mainland: San Francisco Bay region to Baja California.

Marsh Jaumea
(Jaumea carnosa)
is in the sunflower family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, freshwater seeps, canyon bottoms coastal scrub and riparian communities.

Other islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina.

Mainland: British Columbia to northern Baja California.

Heliotrope
(Heliotropium curassavicum)
is in the Borage family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: sandy beaches, floodplains, moist grassy flats, coastal dunes, coastal strand and grasslands.

Other islands: All California Channel Islands except Santa Barbara. Also grows on San Martin and Cedros islands off Mexico.

Mainland: California to Eastern Utah and Arizona, south to subtropical America.

Saltgrass
(Distichlis spicata)
is in the Grass family.
Santa Cruz Island habitats: costal bluffs, beaches, moist depressions, floodplains, coastal scrub, southern beach and dune.

Other islands: all California Channel Islands except Santa Barbara and Los Coronados, San Martin and Cedros island off Mexico.
Mainland: throughout North America

Centaury
(Centaurium davyi)
is in the Gentian family.
Santa Cruz Island habitats: grassy hillsides, rocky slopes, coastal scrub, grasslands and pine forest.
Other islands: Santa Rosa and San Clemente.
Mainland: Humboldt Cou8nty to coastal Santa Barbara County.
The picture at left shows a patch of centaury growing in a grassland. The picture above shows a close up of the flowers and buds.

Emory's rock daisy
(Perityle emoryi)
is in the sunflower family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs and coastal scrub (this one was found in a creek).

Other islands: all California Channel Islands except San Miguel and San Nicolas. All Baja California islands except San Geronimo.

Mainland: coastal California (uncommon), common in deserts of California, Nevada Arizona and Northern Mexico.

Fiesta flower
(Pholistoma auritum v. auritum)
is in the Waterleaf family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: canyon bottoms, coastal bluffs, shaded north-facing slopes, grassy hillsides, chaparral, coastal scrub, grasslands and oak woodland.

Other islands: Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina and San Clemente. Also, Los Coronados and Todos Santos Islands off Mexico.

Mainland: California Central Valley to Southern California.

Bush monkeyflower
(Mimulus longiflorus)
is in the figwort family but it will probably be reclassified.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: coastal bluffs, rocky slopes, exposed ridgetops, chaparral, costal scrub, island woodland, oak woodland and Pine forest.

Other islands: Santa Rosa

Mainland: Southern San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja California

This plant is closely related to Mimulus aurantiacus, found throughout much of California.

Scarlet monkeyflower
(Mimulus cardinalis)
is in the figwort family but it will probably be reclassified.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: moist stream banks, floodplains, freshwater seeps and riparian communities.

Other islands: Santa Rosa, Anacapa, Santa Catalina and San Clemente.

Mainland: San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja California.

Toyon
(Heteromeles arbutifolia)
is in the Rose family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: north-facing coastal bluffs, rocky slopes, ridgetops, canyon bottoms, chaparral, coastal scrub, island woodland, pine forest and riparian communities.

Other islands: All California Channel Islands except Santa Barbara (planted on San Nicolas) plus Los Coronados, Todos Santos, Guadalupe and Cedros islands off Mexico.

Mainland: northern California coast ranges to Baja California.

This photo shows the flowers

It is believed that the city of Hollywood got its name from the abundance of toyon in the hills of the area.

This photo shows a close-up of the leaves and fruit.

Sugar bush
(Rhus ovata)
is in the Sumac family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: rocky slopes and ridgetops, chaparral and coastal scrub.

Other islands: Santa Catalina.

Mainland: southern California to northern Baja, east to Arizona.

The sumac family includes plants as diverse as poison oak, Mango, Pistachio, and the Cashew.

Lemonade berry
(Rhus integrifolia)
is in the rose family.

Santa Cruz Island habitats: sea cliffs, rocky slopes, and ridgetops, chaparral, coastal scrub and pine forest.

Other islands: All California Channel Island except San Nicolas and Santa Barbara. Also on Los Coronados, Todos Santos, Guadalupe and Cedros islands of Mexico.

Mainland: coastal southern California to northern Baja California.

This picture shows the fruits of the plant. They become covered with an acidic pulp (shown) that native Americans and settlers used to make a lemonade like drink.

Chamise
(Adenostoma fasciculatum)
is in the Rose family.
Santa Cruz Island habitats: ridgetops, rocky north-facing slopes, floodplains and chaparral.
Other islands: Santa Rosa, Santa Catalina and San Clemente, plus Cedros Island off Mexico.
Mainland: northern California coast ranges and Sierra Nevada to Baja California.
A close-up of the flowers and leaves.

Island cherry, or Catalina cherry
(Prunus ilicifolia s. lyonii)
is in the rose family.
Santa Cruz Island habitats: rocky slopes, canyon bottoms, stream banks, chaparral and riparian communities.
Other islands: Santa Rosa, Anacapa, Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands.
Mainland: Baja California

Bishop pine
(Pinus muricata)
is in the Pine family.
Santa Cruz Island habitats: north-facing slopes and ridges.

Other islands: Santa Rosa.
Mainland: Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County and northwest Baja California.