WILDFLOWERS of the BAY AREA SECOND EDITION Spring has arrived and wildflowers are blossoming in our local open spaces. This easy-to-use guide will help you identify 30 wildflowers found on POST-protected properties. Click on the habitat types below and discover the beauty of spring.
GRASSLAND FOREST COAST
Blue Dicks Baby Blue Eyes California Fuschia Dichelostemma capitatum Nemophila menziesii Epilobium canum Blue Eyed Grass Common Trillium Coastal Larkspur Sisyrinchium bellum Trillium chloropetalum Delphinium decorum Hound’s Tongue Douglas Iris Indian Warrior Cynoglossum grande Iris douglasiana Pedicularis densiflora Indian Paintbrush Milk Maids Sticky Monkey Flower Castilleja affinis Cardamine californica Mimulus aurantiacus Tidy Tips Redwood Sorrel White Fairy Lantern Layia chrysanthemoides Oxalis oregana Calochortus albus Yarrow Miner’s Lettuce Seaside Daisy Achillea millefolium Claytonia perfoliata Erigeron glaucus Jeweled Onion Crimson Columbine California Poppy Allium serra Aquilegia formosa Eschscholzia californica maritima Johnny Jump-Up Pacific Bleeding Heart Yellow Sand Verbena Viola pedunculata Dicentra formosa Abronia latifolia Sky Lupine Two-eyed Violet Sea Pink Lupinus nanus Viola ocellata Armeria maritima Coyote Mint Pacific Starflower Live Forever Monardella villosa Lysimachia latifolia Dudleya farinosa Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
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A common post-fire species in our local grasslands, it N
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will lay dormant in the soil for a decade or more waiting
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for fire to break ground.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2004
Peninsula Open Space Trust Blue Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium bellum
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
N
The Ohlone people used this plant’s roots and leaves as a A R
A
cure for indigestion and stomach pain. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2011
Peninsula Open Space Trust Hound’s Tongue Cynoglossum grande
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
Named for its smooth, broad shaped leaves that N
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resemble a dog’s tongue. Its roots were once used by
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Native Californians to treat burns and stomach aches.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009
Peninsula Open Space Trust Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
This plant can produce its own food, but if malnourished it N
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will feed off the roots of nearby plants. They often bloom
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in spring and hold their color through the summer.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2004
Peninsula Open Space Trust Tidy Tips Layia chrysanthemoides
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
Often used in native grassland restoration efforts to N
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help attract local pollinators. Once ripened, its seeds
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are a good food source for birds.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Yarrow Achillea millefolium
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
Several nesting birds, including the common starling, use N
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yarrow to line their nest as its oils repel pesky insects like
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mites and mosquitos.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Jeweled Onion Allium serra
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Look for it in hard, rocky soils. Its petals are often A R
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iridescent and turn papery in texture as they dry. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Johnny Jump-Up Viola pedunculata
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Herbal tea can be made from the plant’s leaves. It is also A R
A
known as the California golden violet. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016
Peninsula Open Space Trust Sky Lupine Lupinus nanus
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
Look for their soft grey-green leaves which are coated N
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in silvery hairs. They are one of the most abundant
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flowers in our local grasslands.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016
Peninsula Open Space Trust Coyote Mint Monardella villosa
GRASSLAND IN BLOOM
AN D
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Spanish missionaries used this plant as a cure for sore A R
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throats. Take a sniff to enjoy its fresh, minty fragrance. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016
Peninsula Open Space Trust Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
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Look for the black dots at the center of this flower and A R
A
deep blue veins on its petals. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Common Trillium Trillium chloropetalum
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
One of the earliest flowers to bloom, it is often a herald N
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of spring. It is also extremely fragile and if picked none
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will grow in its place.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Douglas Iris Iris douglasiana
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
Despite the tremendous labor involved, Native Californians N
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once used this plant’s strong petals to weave fishing nets
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and rope. They also used the dried roots as a diuretic.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Milk Maids Cardamine californica
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
Early to bloom, this plant takes advantage of having the N
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full attention of local insects for pollination. They are also
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early to burn out so look for them early in the season.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009
Peninsula Open Space Trust Redwood Sorrel Oxalis oregana
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
Well adapted to life in the shade; when direct sunlight N
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strikes the leaves they fold toward the ground, when
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the shade returns, the leaves reopen.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Tom HIlton 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Miner’s Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
True to its name, it was a valued food source for Gold A R
A
Rush era miners when food supplies were scarce. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016
Peninsula Open Space Trust Crimson Columbine Aquilegia formosa
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Preferring moist soils, look for them along the stream A R
A
bank. It’s also a favorite of hummingbirds. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
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Lacy leaves and delicate pink flowers mask this plant’s A R
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rugged, drought tolerant character. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Two-eyed Violet Viola ocellata
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Distinctively named, these flowers can be identified by A R
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the two purple spots on their petals. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016
Peninsula Open Space Trust Pacific Starflower Lysimachia latifolia
FOREST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
The leaves are an important food source for larvae of A R
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native moths and butterfly. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust California Fuschia Epilobium canum
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
A favorite among hummingbirds, it is uniquely adapted N
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to their behavior. It blooms in the fall before the bird’s
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winter migration, a unique trait amongst wildflowers.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Mathesont 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Coastal Larkspur Delphinium decorum
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
It only grows in California and can be found on the A R
A
slopes of our coastal mountains. Toxic to cattle if eaten. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Indian Warrior Pedicularis densiflora
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
A root parasitic plant, which means that it will attach N
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to the roots of other plants to secure its nutirents and
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water. It often feeds off of manzanita.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Sticky Monkey Flower Mimulus aurantiacus
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
An important host for the larvae of variable checkerspot N
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butterfly. Its heavy resin helps the plant retain water in
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dry environments.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust White Fairy Lantern Calochortus albus
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
Typically this flower is flush pink, but flowers with a deep N
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rose color have been found in southwest San Francisco
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Bay and the southern coast ranges.
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2007
Peninsula Open Space Trust Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucus
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Found along coastal bluffs in full sun, this plant A R
A
is a favorite for local butterfly. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009
Peninsula Open Space Trust California Poppy Eschscholzia californica maritima
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
A subspecies of the California poppy, this one only grows A R
A
along the coast and has a distinct golden yellow color. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Yellow Sand Verbena Abronia latifolia
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
This plant grows as mats in sandy soils. Its roots were a A R
A
common food source for Native Californians. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010
Peninsula Open Space Trust Sea Pink Armeria maritima
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Also known as “thrifts” due to their tightly packed A R
A
leaves which help to conserve water. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009
Peninsula Open Space Trust Live Forever Dudleya farinosa
COAST IN BLOOM
AN D
N
Dry soils bring out an extra showy red coloring in this A R
A
plant’s leaves and stem. R
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MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2004
Peninsula Open Space Trust POST protects and cares for open space, farms, and parkland in and around Silicon Valley.
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Images provided courtesy of Judy Kramer
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