HABITAT: Coastal Sage Scrub

COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT

DESCRIPTION

This pleasantly aromatic plant community is characterized by numerous medium to low growing, soft-leaved, drought resistant shrubs. Also known as "soft chaparral", coastal sage scrub overlaps in areas with "hard chaparral" where succulents and taller evergreen shrubs with waxy leaves can be found. All are well adapted to our Mediterranean climate of dry summers and rainy winters, and can tolerate fog as well as strong offshore Santa Ana and onshore storm-driven winds.

SOIL

A mixture of diverse soils including sandy soil on a firm dirt pan. Average garden soil is usually fine. They like good drainage.

WHERE TO FIND IN NATURE LOCALLY

California or Coastal sage scrub is the dominant back dune plant community of the gated runway path west of LAX. Look for pristine swaths along many hiking paths of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and replanted areas along the cliffs of Palos Verdes Peninsula from Point Vicente Interpretive Center through Terranea Resort.

COASTAL SAGE SCRUB PLANT and WILDLIFE COMMUNITY

Sages define this habitat. White sage, Cleveland sage and Purple sage are just a few that provide nectar for butterflies in spring, and seeds for migrating birds such as Black and White warblers, in fall.

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

California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
Big Saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis)
Coastal Agave (Agave shawii)
Dwarf Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis"Pigeon Point' )
Catalina Silverlace (Constancea (Eriophyllum) nevinii)
Chalk Dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta)
Coast Dudleya (Dudleya caespitosa)
Lance-Leaved Dudleya (Dudleya lanceolat)
Sticky Monkeyflower (Mimulus or Diplacus aurantiacus)
CA Bush Sunflower (Encelia californica)
California fuchsia (Zauschneria canum)
Mock Heather (Ericameria ericoides)
Ashy-leaf Buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum)
Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat (Eriogonum arborescens)
Red Buckwheat (Eriogonum grande rubescens)
Giant Buckwheat (Eriogonum giganteum)
Coastal CA Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum)
Dwarf CA Buckwheat (Eriogonum 'Bruce Dickenson')
Catalina Snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa)
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)
Menzies Goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii)
Canyon Prince Wild Rye (Leymus 'Canyon Prince')
Deerweed (Lotus scoparius)
Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina)
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis)
Bladder pod (Peritoma arborea)
Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)
Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)
Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla)
Pinkie Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla 'Pinkie')
Point Sal Dwarf Purple Sage (Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal ')
Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)
Munz's Sage (Salvia munzii)
Bon Bon Dwarf Sage (Salvia 'Bon Bon')
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

THEY WILL COME!

California Gnatcatcher; Western Fence Lizard, Alligator Lizard
Horned Toad; Sootywing and Western Pygmy Blue Butterflies
Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds; nectar-loving insects
Hummingbirds; Northern Mockingbirds; Grosbeaks
Skippers; Monarch, Swallowtail and Painted Lady Butterflies; Fence lizards
Allen’s & Anna’s Hummingbird; Host plant for Moss' Elfin Butterfly larva
Allen’s & Anna’s Hummingbird; Host plant for Moss' Elfin Butterfly larva
Allen’s & Anna’s Hummingbird; Host plant for Moss' Elfin Butterfly larva
Hummingbirds; Bees; Common Checkerspot Butterfly
Lesser and American Goldfinches
Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds; Butterflies in Fall
Northern Checkerspot Butterfly; Yellow-faced Bumblebees
Mormon Metalmark and Square-spotted Blue Butterflies
Behr's and Brown Elfin Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Behr's and Brown Elfin Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Gray Hairstreak and Acmon Blue Butterflies, Birds eat seeds in fall
Gray Hairstreak and Acmon Blue Butterflies; Birds eat seeds in fall
Gray Hairstreak and Acmon Blue Butterflies; Seed-eating birds
Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds; Nectar loving insects
American Robin; Cedar Waxwings; Host plant for Blue Azure Butterfly
Host plant for Yucca Moth larva; Bullock's and Hooded Orioles
Numerous native flies and bees; Moths; Butterflies
Birds eat seeds; Other creatures use plant as cover from predators
Yellow-faced Bumblebee; Honeybee; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Host plant for Ceanothus and Walter's Silkmoth caterpillars
Fig Beetle; Western Fence Lizard and Alligator lizard
Checkered White & Becker's White Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Walter's Silkmoth host plant; Scrub Jay and Northern Flicker
Bumblebees; Honeybees; Monarch and other Butterflies
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Hummingbirds; Butterflies; Lesser Goldfinches eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Allen's & Anna's Hummingbirds; Bees, Butterflies eat nectar; Birds eat seeds
Host plant for 41 different species of butterflies/moths; Scrub Jays; Wrens

American goldfinches will feast on the seeds of Common sunflower as well as niger seed put out in feeders. Cactus Wrens feed on Yucca nectar--the Yucca moth mates and lays eggs while pollinating the plant.