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Home | Plant Communities | Coastal Sage Scrub

The Coastal Sage Scrub is a plant community typical of Southern California coastal bluffs and canyons. Coastal Sage Scrub is considered by many to be the most endangered plant community in the United States. It has extremely high levels of species diversity and endemism, and it contains a number of endangered species, including the California Gnatcatcher. Coastal Sage Scrub is located on highly valued, coastal real estate and is threatened by development. This ecosystem represents the struggle between preservation and development.

The Coastal Sage Scrub habitat extends from the South Coast Ranges to Baja California, mostly below 3000 feet and below the Chaparral Plant Community. It is characterized by drought adapted shrubs. About 10" - 20" of rain falls annually, and that drains quickly through the dry, rocky or gravelly soil. The growing season is 8 - 12 months annually.

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Black Sage

Salvia mellifera; Mint Family

• open-branched shrub 3 to 6 feet tall
• leaves are 1" - 2" long and about 1/2 as wide
• small, closely-spaced whorls of large blue flowers April - July
• excellent source of nectar for honey-making bees
• seeds dark brown and oblong
• seeds were used by Native Americans for food and tea
• leaves were used for food flavoring

Bladderpod

Isomeris arborea; Caper Family

• rounded, erect shrub
• divided leaves and yellow flowers with four petals; inflated pods 1" - 2" long. Pods and flowers can be found all year, primarily late winter and spring
• Native Americans roasted and boiled the pods for food and the flowers were baked and eaten.
• host plant for Becker's White and Checkered White butterflies

Bush Sunflower or California Encelia

Encelia californica; Sunflower Family

• evergreen; woody, sprawling shrub
• broad leaves 1.5" - 2.5" long
• 2" flowers have yellow rays and purplish centers; blooms February - June
• stems exude a fragrant resin that was chewed by the Native Americans
• seeds were ground and eaten
• blossoms and leaves were made into a tea for toothaches
• heated sap was applied to the body for various pains

California Sagebrush

Artemisia Californica; Sunflower Family

• perennial
• low, rounded shrub, densely covered with very narrow grey leaves 3/4" - 3" long
• small yellow flowers bloom August - December
• Native Americans used this plant's oil as an insect repellent, incense, and for sore throats
• women drank a concoction of this plant to alleviate the effects of menopause
• host plant for the American Lady butterfly

White Sage

Salvia apiana; Mint Family

• low, soft-stemmed, aromatic woody shrub with silvery foliage
• whitish-lavender flowers grow on 5 foot stalks and bloom April - July
• grows on dry slopes below 5000 feet
• Native Americans had many uses for this plant including using it for: flavoring in cooking, treating sore throats, smudge sticks burned during ceremonies