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 EC JAN D V FE O B A common post-fire species in our local grasslands, it N M T A C R O will lay dormant in the soil for a decade or more waiting A T P P R E S for fire to break ground. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2004 Peninsula Open Space Trust Blue Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium bellum GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T The Ohlone people used this plant’s roots and leaves as a A C R O A T P cure for indigestion and stomach pain. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2011 Peninsula Open Space Trust Hound’s Tongue Cynoglossum grande GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Named for its smooth, broad shaped leaves that N M T A C R O resemble a dog’s tongue. Its roots were once used by A T P P R E S Native Californians to treat burns and stomach aches. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009 Peninsula Open Space Trust Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B This plant can produce its own food, but if malnourished it N M T A C R O will feed off the roots of nearby plants. They often bloom A T P P R E S in spring and hold their color through the summer. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2004 Peninsula Open Space Trust Tidy Tips Layia chrysanthemoides GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Often used in native grassland restoration efforts to N M T A C R O help attract local pollinators. Once ripened, its seeds A T P P R E S are a good food source for birds. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Yarrow Achillea millefolium GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Several nesting birds, including the common starling, use N M T A C R O yarrow to line their nest as its oils repel pesky insects like A T P P R E S mites and mosquitos. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Jeweled Onion Allium serra GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Look for it in hard, rocky soils. Its petals are often A C R O A T P iridescent and turn papery in texture as they dry. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Johnny Jump-Up Viola pedunculata GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Herbal tea can be made from the plant’s leaves. It is also A C R O A T P known as the California golden violet. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016 Peninsula Open Space Trust Sky Lupine Lupinus nanus GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Look for their soft grey-green leaves which are coated N M T A C R O in silvery hairs. They are one of the most abundant A T P P R E S flowers in our local grasslands. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016 Peninsula Open Space Trust Coyote Mint Monardella villosa GRASSLAND IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Spanish missionaries used this plant as a cure for sore A C R O A T P throats. Take a sniff to enjoy its fresh, minty fragrance. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016 Peninsula Open Space Trust Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Look for the black dots at the center of this flower and A C R O A T P deep blue veins on its petals. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Common Trillium Trillium chloropetalum FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B One of the earliest flowers to bloom, it is often a herald N M T A C R O of spring. It is also extremely fragile and if picked none A T P P R E S will grow in its place. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Douglas Iris Iris douglasiana FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Despite the tremendous labor involved, Native Californians N M T A C R O once used this plant’s strong petals to weave fishing nets A T P P R E S and rope. They also used the dried roots as a diuretic. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Milk Maids Cardamine californica FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Early to bloom, this plant takes advantage of having the N M T A C R O full attention of local insects for pollination. They are also A T P P R E S early to burn out so look for them early in the season. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2009 Peninsula Open Space Trust Redwood Sorrel Oxalis oregana FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B Well adapted to life in the shade; when direct sunlight N M T A C R O strikes the leaves they fold toward the ground, when A T P P R E S the shade returns, the leaves reopen. M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Tom HIlton 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Miner’s Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T True to its name, it was a valued food source for Gold A C R O A T P Rush era miners when food supplies were scarce. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016 Peninsula Open Space Trust Crimson Columbine Aquilegia formosa FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Preferring moist soils, look for them along the stream A C R O A T P bank. It’s also a favorite of hummingbirds. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Lacy leaves and delicate pink flowers mask this plant’s A C R O A T P rugged, drought tolerant character. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2010 Peninsula Open Space Trust Two-eyed Violet Viola ocellata FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T Distinctively named, these flowers can be identified by A C R O A T P the two purple spots on their petals. P R E S M A G Y U A J U L N U J MORE INFO FIND THEM HERE ©Judy Kramer 2016 Peninsula Open Space Trust Pacific Starflower Lysimachia latifolia FOREST IN BLOOM EC JAN D V FE O B N M T The leaves are an important food source for larvae of A C R O A T P native moths and butterfly.