HABITAT: Chaparral

CHAPARRAL HABITAT

DESCRIPTION

A special plant community characterized by woody, drought and fire-resistant shrubs. Many plants are evergreen with firm waxy leaves that can provide effective protection for nesting birds. They also produce flower nectar in spring and seeds in summer. This sun-loving plant community is well adapted to our Mediterranean climate of dry summers and rainy winters, and most can tolerate fog as well as strong offshore Santa Ana’s and onshore storm-driven winds.

SOIL

Generally nutrient poor and prone to erosion, plants have adapted by growing long taproots that can control erosion and reach deep water. Average garden soil is usually fine. They like good drainage and do well on slopes.

WHERE TO FIND IN NATURE LOCALLY

Chaparral is the dominant plant community of the Santa Monica Mountains where it overlaps with the Coastal Sage Scrub biome. Also, Los Padres National Forest north of Santa Barbara and the mountains surrounding Ojai contain large swaths of nearly uninterrupted Chaparral.

CHAPARRAL PLANT and WILDLIFE COMMUNITY

The nectar of Manzanita blossoms is a favorite food of Anna’s (magenta/grey) and Allen’s (rust/green) hummingbirds. The pink flowers of Lemonade berry attract butterflies such as the Duskywing (top right) and Hairstreak.

IF YOU PLANT IT ------------>

1. Chamise
(Adenostoma fasciculatum)

2. California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)

3. California Mugwort

(Artemisa douglasiana)

4. Howard McMinn Manzanita

(Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn')

5. Big Berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca)

6. Paradise Manzanita

(Arctostaphylos pajaroensis 'Paradise')

7. Nevin's Barberry

(Berberis nevinii)

8. Baja Fairyduster

(Calliandra californica)

9. Anchor Bay California Lilac (Ceanothus gloriosus "Anchor Bay')

10. Celestial Blue California Lilac (Ceanothus 'Celestial Blue')

11. Concha California Lilac (Ceanothus 'Concha')

12. Ray Hartman California Lilac (Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman')

13. Dark Star Ceanothus (Ceanothus 'Dark Star')

14. Carmel Creeper Ceanothus (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis)

15. Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

16. Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertifolium)

17. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

18. California Fescue
(Festuca californica)

19. Flannel Bush

(Fremontodendron)

20. Coffeeberry (Frangula (Rhombus) californica)

21. Evie Silktassel Bush (Garrya elliptical 'Evie')

22. Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)

23. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

24. Laurel Sumac

(Malosma laurina)

25. Deer Grass
(Muhlenbergia rigens)

26. Bladderpod

(Peritonea (Isomeris) arborea)

27. Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)

28. Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)

29. Matilija Poppy

(Romneya coulter)

30. Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

31. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

32. California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

33. Bay Laurel (European, non-native) (Laurel nobilis)

THEY WILL COME!

Spotted Towhees and California Towhees; Wrentits
California Gnatcatcher; Western Fence Lizard and Alligator Lizard
American Lady caterpillar host plant; Provides cover for birds
Allen's & Anna’s hummingbirds; Butterflies; Bees
Allen's & Anna’s Hummingbirds; Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Allen's & Anna’s Hummingbirds; Butterflies; Bees
Western Bluebirds and other berry-eating birds
Allen's & Anna’s Hummingbirds; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Honeybees, Bumblebees, Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies
Honeybees, Bumblebees; Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Honeybees, Bumblebees; Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Honeybees, Bumblebees; Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Honeybees, Bumblebees; Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Honeybees, Bumblebees; Western Fence Lizard; Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Tiger Swallowtail & Monarch Butterflies; Goldfinches; Hummingbirds
Bumble bees; Honey bees; Butterflies; Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds
Yellow-faced Bumblebees and dozens of solitary native bee species; Crab Spiders
Sandhill Skipper; Common Ringlet Butterfly; seed-eating birds
Honeybees; Butterflies; Ground-feeding birds like California and Spotted Towhee
Host plant for Gray Hairstreak and Pale Tiger Swallowtail butterfly larva; Towhees
Honeybees; Nectar and seed-eating birds
Host plant for Yucca Moth larva; Bullock's and Hooded Orioles; Hummingbirds
Host plant for Pacific Azure Butterfly larva; American Robins; Cedar Waxwings
Host plant for Ceanothus and Walter's Silkmoth larva
Seed-eating birds; Provides cover for fence lizards and other ground dwellers
Checkered White & Becker's White Butterflies; Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds
American Robins & Towhees eat berries, Tiger Swallowtail larva eat leaves
Host plant for Walter's Silkmoth; Scrub Jays and Northern Flickers eat seeds
Bumblebees and Honeybees; Monarchs and other Butterflies
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Lesser Goldfinches eat seeds; Many Butterflies
Confirmed host plant for 41 species of butterflies/moths including Calif. Sister
Host plant for Pacific Azure Butterfly caterpillars; Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies
Bumblebees and other native bees; Honeybees, Nesting birds

Ceanothus, Holly-leaf cherry, Yucca and Bush poppy provide food and cover for an assortment of birds including Yellow-rumped warblers and Hooded orioles.