Plants
Although relatively small in size and surrounded by agricultural and urban development on three sides, Younger Lagoon Reserve is comprised of eight unique habitat types, including freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh, riparian willow, coastal strand (back dune), coastal scrub, coastal grassland, seasonal freshwater wetlands, and the brackish lagoon.
Younger Lagoon Reserve is comprised of two distinct parts: the original 25-acre reserve, and the 47-acre Terrace Lands. The Terrace Lands were farmed from ~1920-1990, and prior to the start of the reserve's restoration efforts in 2009, non-native plants dominated much of the reserve. Now, native plants thrive at the reserve, with approximately 30,000 plants planted annualy as part of onging restoration efforts.
To get more involved with plants at UCSC, see the Plant Sciences Page.
Native Plant Species of Younger Lagoon Reserve | ||||||||
Common Name | Scientific Name | Family | Group | Life Cycle | Bloom Period | Vegetative Reproduction | Status (CAL-IPC) | Wetland Indicator Status |
FERNS: | ||||||||
coastal wood fern | Dryopteris arguta | Dryopteridaceae | Pteridophyte | FAC | ||||
California polypody | Polypodium californicum | Polypodiaceae | Pteridophyte | FACU | ||||
bracken fern | Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens | Dennstaedtiaceae | Pteridophyte | FACU | ||||
Grasses: | ||||||||
seashore bent grass | Agrostis pallens | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Apr-May | FACU | ||
California brome | Bromus carinatus var. carinatus | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Feb-Mar | UPL | ||
California oatgrass | Danthonia californica | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Feb-Mar | FAC | ||
saltgrass | Distichlis spicata | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | July-Aug | FACU | ||
blue wild rye | Elymus glaucus | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-July | FACU | ||
beardless wild rye | Elymus triticoides | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-June | Rhizomatous | FAC | |
California fescue | Festuca californica | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Feb-Apr | FACU | ||
red fescue | Festuca rubra | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Apr-May | FAC | ||
meadow barley | Hordeum brachyantherum | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | June-July | FACW | ||
Torrey's melica | Melica torreyana | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-June | FAC | ||
foothill needle grass | Stipa lepida | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-May | UPL | ||
purple needle grass | Stipa pulchra | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-May | UPL | ||
SEDGES & RUSHES: | ||||||||
alkali bulrush | Bolboschoenus maritimus | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Aug-Sept | OBL | ||
seacoast bulrush | Bolboschoenus robustus | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | July-Aug | OBL | ||
Monterey sedge | Carex harfordii | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Feb-Sept | OBL | ||
slough sedge | Carex obnupta | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | June-Sept | Rhizomatous | OBL | |
tall cyperus | Cyperus eragrostis | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-Sept | FACW | ||
creeping spike rush | Eleocharis macrostachya | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Apr-Aug | Rhizomatous | FACW | |
low bulrush | Isolepis cernua | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Annual | Apr-Sept | OBL | ||
baltic rush | Juncus balticus | Juncaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-June | FAC | ||
bog rush | Juncus effusus | Juncaceae | Monocot | Perennial | July-Aug | FACW | ||
Mexican rush | Juncus mexicanus | Juncaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-May | FACW | ||
common rush | Juncus patens | Juncaceae | Monocot | Perennial | July-Oct | FACW | ||
brown-headed rush | Juncus phaeocephalus | Juncaceae | Monocot | Perennial | June-Aug | Rhizomatous | FACW | |
square bulrush | Schoenoplectus americanus | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | June-Aug | Rhizomatous | OBL | |
southern bulrush | Schoenoplectus californicus | Cyperaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-June | Rhizomatous | OBL | |
HERBS & SHRUBS: | ||||||||
yellow sand verbena | Abronia latifolia | Nyctaginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Oct | UPL | ||
pink sand verbena | Abronia umbellata | Nyctaginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | All Year | UPL | ||
California sheepburr | Acaena pinnatifida var. californica | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
yarrow | Achillea millefolium | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Apr-Aug | FACU | ||
beach bur | Ambrosia chamissonis | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | June-July | UPL | ||
pearly everlasting | Anaphalis margaritacea | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Jun-Aug | UPL | ||
sea pink | Armeria maritima | Plumbaginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-June | FAC | ||
California Sagebrush | Artemisia californica | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Apr-Oct | UPL | ||
mugwort | Artemisia douglasiana | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Oct | FACU | ||
beach sagewort | Artemisia pycnocephala | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Aug | FAC | ||
fathen saltweed | Atriplex patula | Chenopodiaceae | Eudicot | Annual | July-Nov | FACW | ||
marsh baccharis | Baccharis glutinosa | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | June-Oct | OBL | ||
coyote brush | Baccharis pilularis | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Sept-Jan | UPL | ||
morning glory | Calystegia purpurata | Convolvulaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Apr-Sept | UPL | ||
beach morning glory | Calystegia soldanella | Convolvulaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
soap plant | Chlorogalum pomeridianum | Agavaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-Aug | UPL | ||
brownie thistle | Cirsium quercetorum | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Ann/Per | May-July | UPL | ||
miners lettuce | Claytonia perfoliata | Montiaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-May | FAC | ||
yerba buena | Clinopodium douglasii | Lamiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-July | UPL | ||
common sandaster | Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. filaginifolia | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Aug | UPL | ||
bluff lettuce | Dudleya farinosa | Crassulaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Jun-Aug | UPL | ||
California fuchsia | Epilobium canum | Onagraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Aug-Oct | FAC | ||
Watson's willowherb | Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii | Onagraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Sept | FAC | ||
horseweed | Erigeron canadensis | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | June-Sept | FACU | ||
seaside daisy | Erigeron glaucus | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Jan-Aug | FACU | ||
coast buckwheat | Eriogonum latifolium | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | July-Sept | UPL | ||
lizard tail | Eriophyllum staechadifolium | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Aug | UPL | ||
California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | Papaveraceae | Eudicot | Ann/Per | Apr-July | UPL | ||
beach strawberry | Fragaria chiloensis | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-Mar | Stoloniferous | UPL | |
California coffeeberry | Frangula californica | Rhamnaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Jun-Aug | UPL | ||
alkali heath | Frankenia salina | Frankeniaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Oct | FACW | ||
Western marsh cudweed | Gnaphalium palustre | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | May-Oct | FACW | ||
coast gumweed | Grindelia stricta | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Oct | UPL | ||
seaside heliotrope | Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum | Boraginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-Oct | Rhizomatous | FACU | |
California horkelia | Horkelia californica var. californica | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Sept | UPL | ||
marsh jaumea | Jaumea carnosa | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Apr-Dec | OBL | ||
yellow bush lupine | Lupinus arboreus | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Apr-July | UPL | ||
miniature lupine | Lupinus bicolor | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
sky lupine | Lupinus nanus | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
California man-root | Marah fabaceus | Cucurbitaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-Apr | UPL | ||
sticky monkey flower | Mimulus aurantiacus | Phrymaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
seep monkey flower | Mimulus guttatus | Phrymaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Aug | Rhizomatous | OBL | |
California wax myrtle | Morella californica | Myricaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | June-July | FAC | ||
skunkweed | Navarretia squarrosa | Polemoniaceae | Eudicot | Annual | May-Sept | FACU | ||
water parsley | Oenanthe sarmentosa | Apiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-July | OBL | ||
Dotted smartweed | Persicaria punctata | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | July-Nov | OBL | ||
Pacific seaside plantain | Plantago maritima | Plantaginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Sept | FACW | ||
Pacific silverweed | Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Oct | Stoloniferous | FAC | |
selfheal | Prunella vulgaris | Lamiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | July-Aug | FACU | ||
ladies' tobacco | Pseudognaphalium californicum | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Ann/Per | Jan-July | UPL | ||
California buttercup | Ranunculus californicus | Ranunculaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-May | FAC | ||
flowering currant | Ribes sanguineum | Grossulariaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Jan-Mar | FAC | ||
spreading gooseberry | Ribes divaricatum | Grossulariaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Mar-May | FAC | ||
California wild rose | Rosa californica | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | May-Aug | FAC | ||
California blackberry | Rubus ursinus | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Vine/Shrub | Feb-May | FACU | ||
willow-leaved dock | Rumex crassus | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-July | FAC | ||
pickleweed | Salicornia rubra | Chenopodiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | July-Nov | OBL | ||
footsteps of spring | Sanicula arctopoides | Apiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-May | UPL | ||
Pacific sanicle | Sanicula crassicaulis | Apiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-Apr | UPL | ||
black elderberry | Sambucus nigra | Adoxaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Mar-May | FACU | ||
Pacific red elderberry | Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa | Adoxaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | July-Aug | FACU | ||
bee plant | Scrophularia californica | Scrophulariaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-May | FAC | ||
checkerbloom | Sidalcea malviflora | Malvaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Aug | FACW | ||
Western blue-eyed grass | Sisyrinchium bellum | Iridaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-May | Rhizomatous | FACW | |
sticky sand spurry | Spergularia macrotheca | Caryophyllaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Feb-May | FAC | ||
California hedge nettle | Stachys bullata | Lamiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Apr-Sept | UPL | ||
American black nightshade | Solanum americanum | Solanaceae | Eudicot | Ann/Per | Mar-Nov | FACU | ||
bush seepweed | Suaeda nigra | Chenopodiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Sept | OBL | ||
California aster | Symphyotrichum chilense | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | July-Aug | FAC | ||
suncups | Taraxia ovata | Onagraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
poison oak | Toxicodendron diversilobum | Anacardiaceae | Eudicot | Vine/Shrub | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
Fremont's star lily | Toxicoscordion fremontii | Melanthiaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-May | UPL | ||
tomcat clover | Trifolium willdenovii | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Jun | UPL | ||
common cattail | Typha latifolia | Typhaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-June | OBL | ||
California nettle | Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis | Urticaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Sept | FAC | ||
hoary nettle | Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea | Urticaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Jun-Sept | FAC | ||
TREES: | ||||||||
California buckeye | Aesculus californica | Sapindaceae | Eudicot | Tree | May-July | UPL | ||
California wax myrtle | Morella californica | Myricaceae | Eudicot | Tree/Shrub | June-July | |||
coast live oak | Quercus agrifolia | Fagaceae | Eudicot | Tree | Feb-Apr | |||
arroyo willow | Salix lasiolepis | Salicaceae | Eudicot | Tree/Shrub | Feb-May | FACW | ||
Introduced Plant Species of Younger Lagoon Reserve | ||||||||
Grasses: | ||||||||
slender oat | Avena barbata | Poaceae | Monocot | Ann/Per | Mar-June | Moderate | UPL | |
false brome | Brachypoduim distachyon | Poaceae | Monocot | Ann/Per | Apr-July | Moderate | UPL | |
rescue grass | Bromus catharticus | Poaceae | Monocot | Ann/Per | Feb-Mar | UPL | ||
ripgut brome | Bromus diandrus | Poaceae | Monocot | Annual | Apr-June | Moderate | UPL | |
soft chess | Bromus hordeaceus | Poaceae | Monocot | Annual | Apr-May | Limited | FACU | |
jubata grass | Cortaderia jubata | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Sept-Feb | High | FACU | |
dogtail grass | Cynosurus echinatus | Poaceae | Monocot | Annual | May-July | Moderate | UPL | |
panic veldtgrass | Ehrharta erecta | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Mar-June | Moderate | UPL | |
rattail sixweek grass | Festuca myuros | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Feb-May | Moderate | FACU | |
Italian rye grass | Festuca perennis | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | May-Sept | FAC | ||
velvet grass | Holcus lanatus | Poaceae | Monocot | Perennial | Jun-Aug | Moderate | FAC | |
foxtail barley | Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum | Poaceae | Monocot | Annual | Apr-July | FAC | ||
rabbits foot grass | Polypogon monspeliensis | Poaceae | Monocot | Annual | May-June | Limited | FACW | |
HERBS & SHRUBS: | ||||||||
scarlet pimpernel | Anagallis arvensis | Myrinaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Sept | UPL | ||
stinking pineapple weed | Anthemis cotula | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | May-Sept | FACU | ||
biennial wormwood | Artemisia biennis | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Ann/Bienn | Sept-Nov | FACW | ||
fat-hen | Atriplex prostrata | Chenopodiaceae | Eudicot | Annual | June-Sept | FAC | ||
common mustard | Brassica rapa | Brassicaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Jan-June | Limited | FACU | |
black mustard | Brassica nigra | Brassicaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Apr-July | Moderate | UPL | |
Italian thistle | Carduus pycnocephalus | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-July | Moderate | UPL | |
iceplant | Carpobrotus edulis | Aizoaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Fib-Oct | High | FAC | |
tocalote | Centaurea melitensis | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | Apr-Aug | Moderate | UPL | |
bull thistle | Cirsium vulgare | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Biennial | June-Sept | Moderate | FACU | |
largeseed goosefoot | Chenopodium macrospermum | Chenopodiaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Jul-Oct | FACW | ||
poison hemlock | Conium maculatum | Apiaceae | Eudicot | Eudicot | Apr-Sept | Moderate | FACU | |
brass buttons | Cotula coronopifolia | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Oct | Limited | OBL | |
Fuller's teasel | Dipsacus fullonum | Dipsacaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | June-Aug | Moderate | FAC | |
longbeak stork's bill | Erodium botrys | Geraniaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-May | FACU | ||
fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Apiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Sept | High | UPL | |
French broom | Genista monspessulana | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Per/Shrub | Mar-May | High | UPL | |
bristly ox-tonge | Helminthotheca echioides | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | June-Dec | Limited | FAC | |
bull mallow | Malva nicaeensis | Malvaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-May | UPL | ||
common horehound | Marrubium vulgare | Lamiaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Aug | Limited | FACU | |
pineapple weed | Matricaria discoidea | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | May-Sept | FACU | ||
bur clover | Medicago polymorpha | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-June | Limited | FACU | |
sourgrass | Oxalis pes-caprae | Oxalidaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Dec-June | Moderate | FAC | |
cut leaf plantain | Plantago coronopus | Plantaginaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Apr-July | FACW | ||
prostrate knotweed | Polygonum aviculare | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Annual | June-Dec | FAC | ||
English plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Plantaginaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Mar-Aug | Limited | FACU | |
Jersey cudweed | Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Aug | FACW | ||
wild radish | Raphanus sativus | Brassicaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-July | Limited | UPL | |
Himalayan blackberry | Rubus armeniacus | Rosaceae | Eudicot | Shrub | Apr-Aug | High | FACU | |
clustered dock | Rumex conglomeratus | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | May-Aug | FACW | ||
curly-leaved dock | Rumex crispus | Polygonaceae | Eudicot | Perennial | All year | Limited | FAC | |
purple ragwort | Senecio elegans | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-June | UPL | ||
cape ivy | Senecio mikanioides | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Perennial | Nov-Mar | High | UPL | |
black nightshade | Solanum nigrum | Solanaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Mar-Oct | FACU | ||
sow thistle | Sonchus asper ssp. asper | Asteraceae | Eudicot | Annual | Feb-Oct | UPL | ||
narrow leaved clover | Trifolium angustifolium | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Annual | Apr-May | UPL | ||
spring vetch | Vicia sativa | Fabaceae | Eudicot | Ann/Vine | Feb-June | UPL | ||
TREES: | ||||||||
Monterey cypress | Hesperocyparis macrocarpa | Cupressaceae | Gymnosperm | Tree | ||||