Conservation - Catalina Plants & Animals

Native Flora of Catalina Island

The native flora of Catalina Island hosts several endemic species and sub-species. These include four federally listed species (three endangered and one threatened), three state listed species (two endangered and one threatened), and over 60 species with California Native Plant Society special status. The protection of this unique and threatened biodiversity is central to the Conservancy’s conservation work.

Ferns- Nonflowering, Vascular Plants

Southern maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris
California maidenhair Adiantum jordanii
California lace fern Aspidotis californica
Mosquito fern Azolla filiculoides
Wood fern Dryopteris arguta
Common scouring rush Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine
Smooth scouring rush Equisetum laevigatum
Giant horsetail Equisetum telmateia ssp. braunii
California cloak-fern Notholaena californica
California adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum californicum
Coffee fern Pellaea andromedifolia
Bird’s-foot fern Pellaea mucronata
Goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis
Silverback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. viscosa
California polypody Polypodium californicum
Western bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens
Bigelow’s spike-moss Selaginella bigelovii
Giant chain fern Woodwardia fimbriata

Magnoliids - Woody, Flowering Plants

Yerba mansa, Anemopsis californica 

Eudicots - Flowering Plants with Two Seeds

Red sand-verbena Abronia maritima
Hybrid sand verbena Abronia maritima x umbellata
Beach sand verbena Abronia umbellata var. umbellata
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Blow-wives Achyrachaena mollis
Spanish clover Acmispon americanus var. americanus
Silver clover Acmispon argophyllus var. argenteus
Hill lotus Acmispon brachycarpus
Island broom Acmispon dendroideus var. dendroideus
Large-flowered lotus, chaparral lotus Acmispon grandiflorus var. grandiflorus
Heermann’s lotus Acmispon heermannii
Coastal lotus Acmispon maritimus var. maritimus
Crab lotus,-flowered lotus Acmispon micranthus
Bishop’s lotus Acmispon strigosus
California lotus Acmispon wrangelianus
Perezia, Sacapellote Acourtia microcephala
Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum
Stinky gilia Allophyllum glutinosum
Coast weed, Pineapple weed Amblyopappus pusillus
Beach bur-sage Ambrosia chamissonis
Western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
Red-stem Ammannia robusta
Common fiddleneck Amsinckia intermedia
Small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
Blue twining snapdragon, Climbing snapdragon Antirrhinumii
Violet snapdragon, Nuttall’s snapdragon Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. subsessile
Lady’s mantle Aphanes occidentalis
Aphanisma Aphanisma blitoides
Wild celery Apiastrum angustifolium
Santa Catalina Island manzanita Arctostaphylos catalinae
California sagebrush Artemisia californica
Mugwort Artemisia douglasiana
Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
Pickleweed Arthrocnemum subterminale
Narrow-leaf milkweed Asclepias fascicularis
Two-seeded milkvetch Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus
Gambel milkvetch Astragalus gambelianus
Rattleweed, Southern California locoweed Astragalus trichopodus var. lonchus
Santa Barbara milkvetch Astragalus trichopodus var. trichopodus
Athysanus Athysanus pusillus
Silverscale Atriplex argentea var. expansa
Coulter’s saltbush Atriplex coulteri
Big saltbush Atriplex lentiformis
Beach saltbush Atriplex leucophylla
South coast saltscale Atriplex pacifica
Spear orach Atriplex patula
Fat-hen Atriplex prostrata
Davidson’s saltscale Atriplex serenana var. davidsonii
Bractscale Atriplex serenana var. serenana
Watson’s saltbush, Matscale Atriplexii
Marsh baccharis Baccharis glutinosa
Coyote brush Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea
Mule fat Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia
Emory baccharis Baccharis salicina
Broom baccharis Baccharis sarothroides
Saltwort, Beachwort Batis maritima
Velvet cactus Bergerocactus emoryi
Bowlesia Bowlesia incana
California brickellbush Brickellia californica
Red maids Calandrinia menziesii
Round-leaved filaree California macrophylla
Water starwort Callitriche marginata
Morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia
Coast morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. cyclostegia
Intermediate morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermedia
Morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia
Beach morning glory Calystegia soldanella
Suncups Camissoniopsis intermedia
Mini suncups Camissoniopsis micrantha
Robust suncups Camissoniopsis robusta
Milk maids Cardamine californica
Indian paintbrush Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis
Purple owl’s-clover Castilleja exserta
Woolly paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa
California mustard Caulanthus lasiophyllus
Feltleaf ceanothus Ceanothus arboreus
Island ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus var. insularis
Bigpod ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus var. megacarpus
Southern tarplant Centromadia parryi ssp. australis
Common spikeweed Centromadia pungens ssp. pungens
Birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides
Island mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae
Catalina Island mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus traskiae
Pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
California goosefoot Chenopodium californicum
Turkish rugging Chorizanthe staticoides
California thistle Cirsium occidentale. var. californicum
Cobwebby thistle Cirsium occidentale. var. occidentale
Seaside cistanthe Cistanthe maritima
Willow-herb clarkia Clarkia epilobioides
Wine cup clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera
Elegant clarkia Clarkia unguiculata
Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora
Miner’s lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana
Miner’s lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata
Western virgin’s bower Clematis ligusticifolia
Yerba buena Clinopodium douglasii
Chinese-houses Collinsia heterophylla var. heterophylla
Summer holly Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. planifolia
Nevin’s woolly sunflower Constancea nevinii
Small-flowered morning-glory Convolvulus simulans
Cud-weed aster Corethrogyne filaginifolia
Brown dogwood Cornus glabrata
Water pygmy weed Crassula aquatica
Pygmy-weed Crassula connata
Alkali weed Cressa truxillensis
Peak rush-rose Crocanthemum scoparium
Island rush-rose Crocantheumumi
Catalina crossosoma Crossosoma californicum
California croton Croton californicus
Turkey-mullein Croton setiger
Cleveland’s cryptantha Cryptantha clevelandii
White forgive-me-not Cryptantha intermedia
Guadalupe cryptantha Cryptantha maritima
Tejon cryptantha Cryptantha microstachys
Wiggins’ cryptantha Cryptantha wigginsii
California dodder Cuscuta occidentalis
Coast cholla Cylindropuntia prolifera
Jimson weed Datura wrightii
Rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus
Island tarplant Deinandra clementina
Common tarplant Deinandra fasciculata
Maritime larkspur Delphinium parryi ssp. maritimum
Channel island tree poppy Dendromecon harfordii
Tansy mustard Descurainia pinnata
Western dichondra Dichondra occidentalis
Yellow field monkeyflower Diplacus brevipes
Red bush monkeyflower Diplacus puniceus
Santa Catalina Island monkeyflower Diplacus traskiae
Beach spectaclepod Dithyrea maritima
Whitlow-grass Draba cuneifolia
Sticky cinquefoil Drymocallis glandulosa var. wrangelliana
Greene’s dudleya Dudleya greenei
Catalina liveforever Dudleya virens ssp. hassei
Island green dudleya Dudleya virens ssp. insularis
California waterwort Elatine californica
Whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora
Bush sunflower Encelia californica
Panicled willow herb Epilobium brachycarpum
California fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. canum
Willow herb Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum
White mallow Eremalche exilis
Threadstem wool star Eriastrum filifolium
Palmer’s goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis
Leafy fleabane Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus
Trask’s yerba santa Eriodictyon traskiae ssp. traskiae
Santa Catalina Island Buckwheat/St. Catherine’s lace Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum
Island buckwheat Eriogonum grande var. grande
Golden-yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum
Texas filaree Erodium texanum
Scarlet monkeyflower Erythranthe cardinalis
Slimy monkeyflower Erythranthe floribunda
Creek monkeyflower Erythranthe guttata
California poppy Eschscholzia californica
Island poppy Eschscholzia ramosa
Eucrypta Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia
Mustard suncup Eulobus californicus
Chinese caps Euphorbia crenulata
Cliff spurge Euphorbia misera
Thyme-leafed spurge Euphorbia serpyllifolia spp. serpyllifolia
Warty fruit spurge Euphorbia spathulata
Western goldenrod Euthamia occidentalis
California orach Extriplex californica
Alkali heath Frankenia salina
Climbing milkweed Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii
Narrowly leaved bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium
Goose grass Galium aparine
Santa Catalina Island bedstraw Galium catalinense ssp. catalinense
Nuttall’s island bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare
San Diego bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii
Climbing bedstraw Galium porrigens var. porrigens
Showy island snapdragon Gambelia speciosa
Purple cudweed Gamochaeta ustulata
Carolina cranesbill Geranium carolinianum
Chaparral gilia Gilia angelensis
Bluehead gilia Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia
Purplespot gilia Gilia clivorum
Nevin’s gilia Gilia nevinii
Lowland cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
Robust gumplant Grindelia camporum
Palmer’s grapplinghook Harpagonella palmeri
Saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides
Sneezeweed Helenium puberulum
Hybrid rush-rose Helianthemumi x scoparium
Alkali heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum
Western nettle Hesperocnide tenella
Dwarf flax Hesperolinon micranthum
Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia
Telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora
Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor var. discolor
Decumbent goldenbush Isocoma menziesii var. decumbens
Menzies coast goldenbush Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii
Prostrate coastal goldenbush Isocoma menziesii var. sedoides
Coast goldenbush Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides
Jaumea Jaumea carnosa
Islandonia Jepsonia malvifolia
Minute-flowered cryptantha Johnstonella micromeres
Heart-leaved penstemon, Climbing penstemon Keckiella cordifolia
Coulter’s horseweed Laënnecia coulteri
Leather-spineflower Lastarriaea coriacea
Coast goldfields Lasthenia californica ssp. californica
Common goldfields Lasthenia gracilis
Wine red wild sweetpea Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii
Wild sweet pea Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
Tidy-tips Layia platyglossa
Fragrant pitcher sage Lepechinia fragrans
Hairy peppergrass Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum
Dwarf peppergrass Lepidium latipes
Shining peppergrass Lepidium nitidum
Island peppergrass, Lentejilla Lepidium oblongum
True baby stars Leptosiphon bicolor
Giant coreopsis Leptosyne gigantea
Ground pink, Fringed linanthus Linanthus dianthiflorus
Woodland star Lithophragma affine
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata
Arizona cottonrose Logfia arizonica Holub
California cottonrose Logfia filaginoides
Hairy honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula
Wild honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata
Santa Barbara honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. subspicata
Floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides ssp. peploides
Silver bush lupine Lupinus albifrons var albifrons
Miniature lupine Lupinus bicolor
Bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus
Stinging lupine Lupinus hirsutissimus
Arroyo lupine Lupinus succulentus
Collar lupine, Truncate lupine Lupinus truncatus
Santa Catalina Island desert-thorn Lycium brevipes var. hassei
California box-thorn Lycium californicum
Santa Catalina Island ironwood Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. floribundus
Common madia Madia elegans
Threadstem madia/tarweed Madia exigua
Gumweed Madia gracilis
Santa Catalina Island bush-mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. catalinensis
Laurel sumac Malosma laurina
Island mallow, Malva rosa Malva assurgentiflora ssp. glabra
Alkali-mallow Malvella leprosa
California man-root Marah fabacea
Wild cucumber Marah macrocarpa
Valley mayweed Matricaria occidentalis
Yellow comet, Hydra stick-leaf Mentzelia affinis
Blazing star,-flowered stick-leaf Mentzelia micrantha
slender cottonweed Micropus californicus var. californicus
Small-flowered microseris Microseris douglasii ssp. platycarpha
Douglas’ stitchwort Minuartia douglasii
Wishbone bush Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia
Holly-leaved skunkweed Navarretia atractyloides
Hooked skunkweed Navarretia hamata ssp. hamata
Hooked skunkweed Navarretia hamata ssp. leptantha
Coast woolly-heads Nemacaulis denudata var. denudata
Baby blue-eyes Nemophila menziesii
Indian tobacco Nicotiana quadrivalvis
Blue toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
Oligomeris Oligomeris linifolia
Coastal prickly pear Opuntia littoralis
Pancake prickly pear, Tall prickly pear Opuntia oricola
Chaparral broomrape Orobanche bulbosa
Clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
Short-lobed broomrape Orobanche parishii ssp. brachyloba
California wood-sorrel Oxalis californica
Fire poppy Papaver californicum
Wind poppy Papaver heterophyllum
Pellitory Parietaria hespera var. californica
Pellitory Parietaria hespera var. hespera
Narrow-toothed pectocarya Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula
Northern pectocarya Pectocarya penicillata
Lyon’s pentachaeta Pentachaeta lyonii
Bladderpod Peritoma arborea
Emory’s rock daisy Perityle emoryi
Water smartweed Persicaria amphibia
Caterpillar phacelia Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida
Fern-leaf phacelia Phacelia distans
Large-flowered phacelia Phacelia grandiflora
Lyon’s phacelia Phacelia lyonii
Wild canterbury bells Phacelia minor
Sticky phacelia Phacelia viscida var. viscida
Fiesta flower Pholistoma auritum var. auritum
White fiesta flower Pholistoma racemosum
Adobe popcornflower Plagiobothrys acanthocarpus
Popcorn flower Plagiobothrys canescens
Rough-stemmed popcornflower Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens
San Diego popcornflower Plagiobothrys collinus var. gracilis
Rusty popcornflower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
California plantain Plantago erecta
Island plantain Plantago ovata var. insularis
Cream cups Platystemon californicus
Saltmarsh fleabane Pluchea odorata var. odorata
Arrow-weed Pluchea sericea
Prostrate polycarp Polycarpon depressum
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii
Black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa
Hybrid cottonwood Populus x parryi
Island shooting star Primula clevelandii var. insularis
Catalina cherry Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
Fragrant everlasting Pseudognaphalium beneolens
Two-tone everlasting, Bicolored everlasting Pseudognaphalium biolettii
California everlasting, Green everlasting Pseudognaphalium californicum
Pseudognaphalium canescens
Felt-leaf everlasting, White everlasting Pseudognaphalium microcephalum
Cotton-batting Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Slender woolly-marbles Psilocarphus tenellus
Woodland threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides
Canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis
Hybrid oak Quercus chrysolepis x tomentella
Blue oak Quercus douglasii
Hybrid scrub oak Quercus douglasii x pacifica
Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii
Valley oak Quercus lobata Née
Island scrub oak Quercus pacifica
Island oak Quercus tomentella
Macdonald oak Quercus x macdonaldii
California chicory Rafinesquia californica
California buttercup Ranunculus californicus var. cuneatus
Hebe buttercup Ranunculus hebecarpus
Island redberry Rhamnus pirifolia
Lemonade berry Rhus integrifolia
Hybrid sugar bush Rhus integrifolia x ovata
Sugar bush Rhus ovata
Santa Catalina Island currant Ribes viburnifolium
California rose Rosa californica
California blackberry Rubus ursinus
Golden dock Rumex fueginus
Willow dock Rumex salicifolius
Dwarf pearlwort Sagina apetala
Western pearlwort Sagina decumbens ssp. occidentalis
Pickleweed Salicornia pacifica
Narrow-leaved willow, Coyote willow Salix exigua
Red willow Salix laevigata
Arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
White sage Salvia apiana.
Hybrid sage Salvia apiana x mellifera
Chia Salvia columbariae
Black sage Salvia mellifera
Blue elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Sanicle Sanicula arguta
Pacific sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis
Santa Catalina figwort Scrophularia villosa
Chaparral ragwort Senecio aphanactis
Douglas’ threadleaf ragwort Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii
Island senecio Senecio lyonii
Santa Cruz Island rockcress Sibara filifolia
Sleepy catchfly Silene antirrhina
Multinerved catchfly Silene coniflora
White Douglas’ nightshade Solanum douglasii
Wallace’s nightshade Solanum wallacei
California goldenrod Solidago velutina ssp. californica
Sticky sand-spurrey Spergularia macrotheca var. macrotheca
Saltmarsh sand-spurrey Spergularia marina
Grassland silverpuffs Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa
Shining chickweed Stellaria nitens
San Diego wreath plant, San Diego milk-aster Stephanomeria diegensis
Wand chicory Stephanomeria virgata ssp. virgata
Everlasting neststraw Stylocline gnaphaloides
Horned seablite Suaeda calceoliformis
Woolly seablite Suaeda taxifolia
Creeping snowberry Symphoricarpos mollis
Annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum
Hairy lacepod Thysanocarpus curvipes
Fringepod, Narrow-leaved lacepod Thysanocarpus laciniatus
Poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum
Vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum
Indian clover, Rancheria clover Trifolium albopurpureum ssp.
Foothill clover Trifolium ciliolatum
Dwarf sack clover Trifolium depauperatum var. amplectens
Truncate sack clover Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum
Bull clover Trifolium fucatum Lindl.
Pinpoint clover Trifolium gracilentum
Macrae’s clover Trifolium macraei
Small-head clover Trifolium microcephalum
Thimble clover Trifolium microdon
Souther island clover Trifolium palmeri
Tomcat clover Trifolium willdenovii
Venus looking-glass Triodanis biflora
Dobie pod Tropidocarpum gracile
Tower mustard Turritis glabra
Silverpuffs Uropappus lindleyi
Hoary nettle Urtica gracilis ssp. holosericea
Vervain Verbena bracteata
Vervain Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys
Vervain Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida
Speedwell Veronica sp.
Slender vetch Vicia hassei
Deerpea vetch Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana
Johnny-jump-up Viola pedunculata
Desert wild grape Vitis girdiana Munson
Mission manzanita Xylococcus bicolor
Caucalis Yabea microcarpa
California centaury Zeltnera venusta

Monocots- Grass, Grass-like Flowering Plants

Spike bent grass Agrostis exarata
Dune bent grass Agrostis pallens
Wild onion, Early onion Allium praecox
Southwestern bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis
Sixweeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis
Common goldenstar Bloomeria crocea
Saltmarsh bulrush, Alkali bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus ssp. paludosus
Seacoast bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus
Cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis
Chaparral cluster-lily Brodiaea jolonensis
Arizona brome Bromus arizonicus
California brome Bromus carinatus
Woodland brome Bromus laevipes
Fairy-lantern Calochortus albus
Catalina mariposa lily Calochortus catalinae
Lilac mariposa Calochortus splendens
Round-fruited sedge Carex globosa
Freeway sedge Carex praegracilis
Trigonous sedge Carex triquetra
Foothill sedge Carex tumulicola
Soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Tall flatsedge Cyperus eragrostis
Yellow nutgrass Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus
Fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus
Blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum
Shore grass Distichlis littoralis
Salt grass Distichlis spicata
Creeping spike-rush Eleocharis macrostachya
Giant wild-rye Elymus condensatus
Blue wild-rye, Western wild-rye Elymus glaucus
Big squirreltail Elymus multisetus
Beardless wild rye Elymus triticoides
Stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
Small fescue Festuca microstachys
Sixweeks grass Festuca octoflora
California barley Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum
Bobtail barley Hordeum intercedens
Southwestern spiny rush Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii
Baltic rush Juncus balticus ssp. ater
Toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus
Basket rush Juncus textilis
Iris-leaved rush Juncus xiphioides
Mexican sprangletop Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia
Little California melica Melica imperfecta
Littleseed muhly Muhlenbergia microsperma
Knot grass Paspalum distichum
Lemmon’s canary grass Phalaris lemmonii
Surf-grass Phyllospadix scouleri
Torrey’s surf-grass Phyllospadix torreyi
Chaparral rein-orchid Piperia cooperi
Elegant piperia Piperia elegans
Chaparral orchid Piperia elongata
Slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
One-sided blue grass Poa secunda ssp. secunda
California dissanthelium Dissanthelium californicum
Leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus ssp. foliosus
Ditch-grass Ruppia maritima
Olney’s three-square bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
Common three-square bulrush Schoenoplectus pungens var. longispicatus
Small fruit bulrush Scirpus microcarpus
Western blue-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium bellum
Nodding needle grass Stipa cernua
Foothill needle grass Stipa lepida
Purple needle grass Stipa pulchra
Fennel-leaf pondweed Stuckenia pectinata
Southern cattail Typha domingensis
Broad-leaved cattail Typha latifolia
Eel grass Zostera marina
Pacific eel grass Zostera pacifica
Bromus pseudolaevipes
Hordeum murinum