Some Favorite Arroyo Seco Native Plants

The Arroyo Seco is home to a wide diversity of plants, some of which are typical of Western habitat and others that do not grow outside the watershed.

Besides being beautiful and fostering biodiversity, many of these plants are wonderful for landscaping and are a great way to conserve water in your garden while attracing bird and butterflies.

Many of these plants are edible or can be used as topical remedies. Try them at your own risk but never consume any plant unless you are absolutely sure what it is.

California Sagebrush
Artemesia californica

Known colloquially as cowboy cologne, California sagebrush has a distinctive aroma that has become a part of our state heritage. It is one of the more common plants in the local sage scrub.

Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana

Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia

California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum

Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia

Bright red edible berries that decorate the watershed in the winter. Toyon berries were eaten by the Gabrielinos and are important for our local bird habitat. Also known as California holly and Christmas berry, branches were collected as holiday decorations. Toyon is Hollywood's namesake.

Southern California Black Walnut
Juglans californica

Laurel Sumac
Malosma laurina

Western Sycamore
Platanus racemosa

Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia

Engelmann Oak
Quercus engelmannii

The Englemann oak, also called the Pasadena oak, is a threatened species of oak that grows in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Golden Currant
Ribes aureum gracillimum

Edible berries

California Wild Rose
Rosa californica

Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia

Sugarbush
Rhus ovata

White Sage
Salvia apiana

Condsidered a sacred herb by the indigenous people of Southern California, white sage is a common plant in the Arroyo Seco Watershed.

Black Sage
Salvia mellifera

Western Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum

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