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Park Ecology

Survey Plant List

Plant List from Assessment

Three rare California plant species were among more than 80 native plants counted during the assessment. Nearly 100 invasive, non-native plant species were found.

California Native Species

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
Alkali mallow * Malvella leprosa
American bird’s foot trefoil * Acmispon americanus var. americanus
Arroyo lupine * Lupinus succulentus
Arroyo willow * Salix lasiolepis
Baby blue eyes * Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii
Bermuda buttercup Oxalis pes-caprae
Bird’s eye gilia * Gilia tricolor
Black sage * Salvia mellifera
Blue elderberry * Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea
Blue toadflax * Nuttallanthus texanus
Bluehead gilia * Gilia capitata
Branching phacelia * Phacelia ramosissima
California bee plant * Scrophularia californica
California blackberry * Rubus ursinus
California brittlebush * Encelia californica
California chicory * Rafinesquia californica
California coffeeberry * Frangula californica subsp. californica
California flannelbush * Fremontodendron californicum
California hedge nettle * Stachys bullata
California live oak * Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia
California melic * Melica imperfecta
California mugwort * Artemisia douglasiana
California sagebrush * Artemisia californica
California wild rose * Rosa californica
Chick lupine * Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflourus
Christmas berry * Heteromeles arbutifolia
Cleavers * Galium aparine
Cliff aster # Malacothrix saxatilis var. saxatilis
Cliff desert dandelion * Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia
Climbing bedstraw * Galium porrigens var. porrigens
Clustered dock * Rumex conglomeratus
Coastal goldenbush * Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides
Common eucrypta * Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia
Common sandaster * Corethrogyne filaginifolia
Contorted primrose * Camissonia strigulosa
Cottonbatting plant * Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Coyote brush * Baccharis pilularis subsp. consanguinea
Creeping snowberry * Symphoricarpos mollis
Deerweed * Acmispon glaber var. glaber
Douglas’ nightshade * Solanum douglasii
Elegant clarkia * Clarkia unguiculata
Featherweed * Gamochaeta ustulata
Foothill needle grass * Stipa lepida
Fuchsia flowered gooseberry* Ribes speciosum
Gamble weed * Sanicula crassicaulis
Giant wild rye * Elymus condensatus
Golden yarrow * Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum
Hairy matilija poppy * Romneya trichocalyx
Hairy wood sorrel * Oxalis pilosa
Hoary nettle * Urtica dioica subsp. holosericea
Hollyleaf redberry * Rhamnus ilicifolia
Holly-leafed cherry * Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia
Hummingbird sage * Salvia spathacea
Intermediate sun cups * Camissoniopsis intermedia
Island false bindweed * Calystegia macrostegia
Ladies’ tobacco * Pseudognaphalium californicum
Laurel sumac * Malosma laurina
Lemonade berry * Rhus integrifolia
Lowland cudweed * Gnaphalium palustre
Mock parsley * Apiastrum angustifolium
Narrowleaf cattail * Typha domingensis
Peppergrass * Lepidium strictum
Pineapple weed * Matricaria discoidea
Plummer’s baccharis # Baccharis plummerae subsp. plummerae
Poison oak * Toxicodendron diversilobum
Purple Chinese houses * Collinsia heterophylla
Purple sage * Salvia leucophylla
Saltmarsh bulrush * Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. paludosus
Santa Barbara honeysuckle # Lonicera subspicata var. subspicata
Santa Cruz Island bush mallow * Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nuttallii
Saw toothed goldenbush * Hazardia squarrosa
Small fescue * Festuca microstachys
Southern bulrush * Schoenoplectus californicus
Spiny redberry * Rhamnus crocea
Sticky monkeyflower* Diplacus longiflorus
Sticky phacelia * Phacelia viscida var. albiflora
Tall cyperus * Cyperus eragrostis
Telegraph weed * Heterotheca grandiflora
Toad rush * Juncus bufonius
Two-color rabbit-tobacco * Pseudognaphalium biolettii
Vervain * Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys
Western blue eyed grass * Sisyrinchium bellum
Western sycamore * Platanus racemosa
Wild honeysuckle * Oenothera suffrutescens
Wishbone bush * Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia
Wright’s cudweed * Pseudognaphalium microcephalum

Invasive Species

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
African asparagus fern Asparagus asparagoides
African cornflag Chasmanthe floribunda
Annual beard grass Polypogon monspeliensis
Annual blue grass Poa annua
Annual yellow sweetclover Melilotus indicus
Asphodel Asphodelus fistulosus
Australian cheesewood Pittosporum undulatum
Australian saltbush Atriplex semibaccata
Black mustard Brassica nigra
Bladderflower Araujia sericifera
Blessed milkthistle Silybum marianum
Brazilian pepper tree Schinus terebinthifolius
Bristly ox-tongue Helminthotheca echioides
Bristly tail seed Urospermum picroides
Broad leaf filaree Erodium botrys
Bulbous canarygrass Phalaris aquatica
Bur clover Medicago polymorpha
Canary Island palm Phoenix canariensis
Cape ivy Delairea odorata
Castor bean Ricinus communis
Chaparral clematis Clematis lasiantha
Charlock mustard Sinapis arvensis
Cheeseweed mallow Malva parviflora
Chickweed Stellaria media
Chinese lantern tree Koelreutaria sp.
Coastal lotus Acmispon maritimus
Common sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Cranesbill Geranium dissectum
Cretan mallow Malva pseudolavatera
Crimson fountaingrass Pennisetum setaceum
Curly dock Rumex crispus
English ivy Hedera helix
English plantain Plantago lanceolata
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus sp.
False brome Brachypodium distachyon
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Finestem needlegrass Nassella tenuissima
Four leaved allseed Polycarpon tetraphyllum var. tetraphyllum
Foxtail chess Bromus madritensis
Garden nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
Geraldton carnation weed Euphorbia terracina
Greenstem filaree Erodium moschatum
Hairy vetch Vicia villosa
Hyssop loosestrife Lythrum hyssopifolia
Italian rye grass Festuca perennis
Italian thistle Carduus pycnocephalus
Maltese star thistle Centaurea melitensis
Mediterranean hoary mustard Hirschfeldia incana
Mediterranean pygmy weed Crassula tillaea
Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
Narrowleaf cottonrose Logfia gallica
Nightshade Solanum sp.
Nit grass Gastridium phleoides
Olive Olea europaea
Panic veldtgrass Ehrharta erecta
Peruvian pepper tree Schinus molle
Petty spurge Euphorbia peplus
Pigmy weed Crassula connata
Poison hemlock Conium maculatum
Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola
Prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper subsp. asper
Pride of Madeira Echium candicans
Prostrate knotweed Polygonum aviculare
Purple pampas grass Cortaderia jubata
Purple vetch Vicia benghalensis
Radish Raphanus sativus
Ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
Rattail sixweeks grass Festuca myuros
Red brome Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens
Redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium
Rescue grass Bromus catharticus var. catharticus
Ripgut grass Bromus diandrus
Saltmarsh sand spurry Spergularia marina
Scarlet pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis
Sea fig Carpobrotus chilensis
Slender wild oat Avena barbata
Small-flower catchfly Silene gallica
Smilo grass Stipa miliacea var. miliacea
Soft brome Bromus hordeaceus
Spineless yucca Yucca gigantea
Spring vetch Vicia sativa
Sticky snakeroot Ageratina adenophora
Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima
Tree tobacco Nicotiana glauca
Uruguayan pampas grass Cortaderia selloana
Wall barley Hordeum murinum
Wattle Acacia sp.
White horehound Marrubium vulgare
White sweetclover Melilotus albus
Wild oat Avena fatua

What Does “Special Status” Mean?

“Special status species” is used in the scientific community and this report for plant communities, and plant and animal species that are considered sufficiently rare that they require special consideration and/or protection, and should be or have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by the Federal and/or State governments.

Three Rare Native Plant Species Found

The survey’s literature review revealed 54 special-status California native plant species that could potentially grow in Elings Park. Three of these species were observed and mapped:

  • 2 Plummer’s baccharis (Baccharis plummerae ssp. Plummerae)
  • 10 Santa Barbara honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicta ssp. subspicata)
  • 40 cliff malacothrix (Malacothrix saxatilis var. saxatilis)

The report also evaluated if the Park could support additional special-status plants, looking at suitable habitats, proximity to existing populations, amount of time since last observation, and elevation.

This is useful for the park’s planning for future restoration efforts, which could potentially include planting special-status plants.

There are five varieties of cliff aster, but Elings Park was found to contain the rare Malacothrix saxatilis var. saxatilis. A native perennial herb, it usually grows along cliffs in coastal scrub in Central and Southern California. The flowers are white to yellow and bloom from spring through summer.

Lonicera subspicata var. Subspicata credit SB Botanic Garden

Unlike Santa Barbara honeysuckle’s common “denudate” variety, Lonicera subspicata var. Subspicata is rare and found only in limited locations including Santa Barbara County, and Catalina and Santa Cruz islands. It climbs on other plants for support, features yellow-white flowers, and produces red berries.

Malacothrix saxatilis var. saxatilis credit iNaturalist

Plummer’s baccharis (Baccharis plummerae ssp. Plummerae) is found only in California and was named in honor of American botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon (1836-1923) who discovered it. The shrub is dioecious, meaning male and female plants produce flower heads of different types. It grows in coastal sage scrub and can reach more than six feet tall.

Baccharis plummerae ssp. Plummerae credit iNaturalist

A global and state ranking system determines the rarity of a plant species or community. “Special status species” are those considered sufficiently rare that they require special consideration and/or protection, and should be or have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by the Federal and/or State governments.

Invasive Plants Recommended for Mitigation

Of the nearly 100 invasive species observed in the Park, 32 species were identified, mapped, and prioritized for possible removal. These areas contain species either newly or not yet established species that were easily controlled.

Some Park areas were not mapped though they contained invasive plant species. This happened in instances when the invasive plants were not easily controlled, were well established, or would require significant effort to be treated.

African cornflag (Chasmanthe floribunda)
Asphodel (Asphodelus fistulosus)
Australian cheesewood (Pittosporum undulatum)
Bladderflower (Araujia sericifera)
Blessed milkthistle (Silybum marianum)
Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)
Bulbous canarygrass (Phalaris aquatica)
Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis)
Cape ivy (Delairea odorata)
Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
Chinese lantern tree (Koelreutaria sp.)
Crimson fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Finestem needlegrass (Nassella tenuissima)
Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Geraldton carnation weed (Euphorbia terracina)
Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa)
Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus)
Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta)
Nightshade (Solanum sp.)
Olive (Olea europaea)
Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
Purple pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata)
Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis)
Spineless yucca (Yucca gigantea)
Sticky snakeroot (Ageratina adenophora)
Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
Uruguayan pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)
Wattle (Acacia sp.)

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