| Thumbnail | Name | Info |
|---|---|---|
 | Asphodel Asphodelus fistulosus | Malibu These are all over in Santa Barbara, too. I also saw some at Parma Park, but the photo didn't come out good. According to Bob Case, Asphodelus fistulosus is a federally rated noxious weed. It is not native or widespread in California. Some south coast counties have sizeable populations. Populations should be reported to the county agricultural commissioner. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) encourage control and eradication efforts. Hikers should not pick the flowers and spread the seed. |  | Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii | Spring, near Zaca Peak |  | Beach Primrose Camissonia cheiranthifolia | March, Oso Flaco Dunes |  | Bigelow Coreopsis Coreopsis bigelovii | Spring, Little Pine Mountain It is quite common and grows around California poppies. |
 | Bird's Eye Gilia Gilia tricolor | May, near Manzana Schoolhouse This was found in a shady place, but I've seen it growing in full sun. Seems to like disturbed areas like the bed of the trail. |
 | Black Sage Salvia Mellifera | Toro Canyon Park These are common wherever sunny sagey places are. Flowers are white to pale purple. |
 | Blackberry Rubus ursinus | Spring, Agua Caliente Trail I've heard these more often called Raspberries, but looking for an ID I only found Blackberries. |
 | Blackberry Rubus ursinus | Romero Trail This one is probably ready to eat. They are red when not yet ripe. |
 | Bladderpod Isomeris arborea | On the Sisquoc Loop Looks a lot like Prince's Plume, but less tall and majestic. |
 | Blazing Star Mentzelia spp. | Carrizo Plains Actually, on a dirt road climbing above the plains. |
 | Blazing star Mentzelia laevicaulis | Manzana Trail. |  | Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum | May, Hurricane Deck |  | Blue flax Linum perenne lewissi | Near Hell's half acre on the western edge of the big potrero between the horse trough and the wierd rocky spot on McKinley Rd. |
 | Buckwheat Erigionum fasciculatum | Spring, Potrero Trail |  | Buckwheat Erigionum fasciculatum | Fish Creek in the Fall I kind of like these when they have dried up. The red is quite brilliant. |
 | Bull Mallow Malva nicaeensis | San Ysidro Trail Bull Mallow is pretty common along roadsides or other weedy places. Only in spring does it catch your eye with these pretty flowers. It's not native, but has naturalized. |
 | Bush Lupine Lupinus albifrons | Spring, Figueroa Mountain |  | Bush Mallow Malacothamnus fasciculatus | Jesusita Trail These are so pretty and delicate. They look like a cross between a sage and a rose. They seemed to like part sun and part shade. |
 | Bush or Sticky Monkey-flower Mimulus aurantiacus | April, Aliso Trail |  | Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida | Spring, Tunnel Trail. Bush poppy is a common chaparral plant and can be found on most of the frontcountry trails. |  | Buttercup Ranunculus californicus | Spring, Rattlesnake Trail Another good place to see Buttercups are up on Figueroa Mountain Road. They like to grow in shady places under oak trees. |
 | California Broomrape Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei | Spring, Lost Valley Trail past the pine tree This is a parasitic plant, about 3 inches high. Very strange. |
 | California Chicory Rafinesquia californica | Cold Springs Trail These grow at low elevations and look like a weed. They can be found in sun or shade. |
 | California False Lupine Thermopsis Californica | Mission Pine Basin I saw a nice patch growing on Happy Canyon Road, too. |
 | California Fuchsia Epilobium californica | Manzana Trail |  | California Goldenrod Solidago californica | Lost Valley Trail Butterflies really liked this flower. |
 | California Groundcone or Chaparral Broomrape Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei | Spring, Lost Valley Trail near the Pine Tree I found this growing under a Chamise bush just before the Pine Tree. |
 | California Honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula | Fir Canyon Blooms in June and likes sun. This version is yellow, but I have also seen a pink version growing in the shade, also in June. |
 | California Honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula | Cold Springs Trail Near the entrance. Grows in shade, blooms in June or so. Similar and related to a yellow, more woody variety that grows among the stiffer chaparral plants in full sun. |
 | California milkweed Asclepias californica | Early Summer on Manzana Trail near the Schoolhouse |  | California Peony Paeonia californica | Potrero Trail this one was very big and very open. |
 | California polypody Polypodium californicum | Spring, near 19 Oaks At the trail turnoff, actually. Another common fern is maidenhair, not pictured here. |
 | California Poppies and Lupine Eschscholzia californica and Lupinus bicolor | Spring, Figueroa Mountain |  | California thread-torch Castilleja minor ssp. stenantha | Manzana Trail This flower grows on the creek banks. It resembles Indian Paintbrush. |
 | Canyon Sunflower Venegasia carpesioides | Cold Springs Trail Despite the name "Sunflower", I have seen these growing in the shade near creeks. |
 | Canyon Sweet Pea Lathyrus vestilus | Blue Canyon Trail These are pretty common near the coast in the early spring. They last pretty long, but they don't smell like anything. |
 | Cape Ivy Senecio mikanioides | Romero Trail Cape Ivy, also known as German Ivy, was introduced in the 1800s. It originates from South Africa and has now become an invasive pest. It is overtaking riparian areas of the California and Oregon coast, and also parts of Hawaii. |
 | Caterpillar Phacelia Phaceila cicutaria | Cold Springs Trail These really stick to your clothes once they have gone to seed. But for now they are pretty. |
 | Chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum | Toro Canyon Park This is one of the most common of the chaparral plants in our area. It is what usually makes a trail overgrown first. |
 | Chamomile Anthemis | Dirt road Chamomile grows all over the place, typically in dirt roads. It doesn't get very high around here, maybe because people drive and walk all over it? I've never seen it much taller than a few inches. I've seen it in the mountains and near the beach. |
 | Chaparral Current Ribes malvaceum | Tequepis Trail Winter blooming. Fruit inedible. |
 | Chaparral Nightshade Solanum xantii | Early Spring, Arroyo Burro Trail Actually on the north side going down into the Santa Ynez River. |
 | Chaparral Pea Pickeringia montana | Tequepis Trail These grow on shrubs that have a lot of painful thorns. Bloom in June/summer in sunnier spots, above 2000ft usually. |
 | Chaparral Yucca Yucca whipplei | Romero Trail Blooms in early summer. Likes dry places. |
 | Chaparral Yucca Yucca whipplei | Romero Trail This is the bud before the bloom. A friend told a story of measuring one of these on the way in on a hike and again on the way out. Growth was a few inches in those hours! |
 | Charming Centaury Canchalagua | I can't remember where I saw this. I think it is a member of the gentian family. |  | Checkerbloom Sidalcea pedata | Spring, Rattlesnake Trail |  | Chia Salvia columbariae | Spring, Manzana Trail to the Schoolhouse It's not usual to see this growing in the shade. Perhaps that is why it had so many petals. |
 | Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla | Spring, Manzana trail Chinese Houses prefer shady moist locations in oak woodlands. |
 | Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla | May, near Manzana Schoolhouse Likes shade. Usually less dramatic color, often white. |
 | Chocolate Lily Fritillaria biflora | Aliso Trail These flowers are very unusual and a prized find for most flower enthusiasts. |
 | Clematis Clematis lasiantha | Matilija Canyon Clematis can be found just about anywhere in the chaparral. Early spring it is a beautiful cream-colored flower. When it goes to seed it looks like a large cotton ball. |
 | Clematis Clematis lasiantha | Cold Springs Trail near Montecito Peak These are so soft when they have gone to seed. Like cotton balls. |
 | Cliff Aster Malacothrix saxatilis | Malibu These grow at low elevation in the sun in places with a lot of weeds. Looks like Chicory, but has pink underneath the petals and is sort of spindly. |
 | Climbing Penstemon or Heart-leaved Penstemon Keckiella cordifolia | These grow commonly in our front and backcountry, usually in partially sunny places. Hummingbirds like them. |  | Coast or California Figwort, or California Bee-plant Scrophularia californica | Toro Canyon This is quite common at lower elevations near, but not right in, creeks. |
 | Coastal Prickly Pear Opuntia littoralis | San Ysidro Trail Usually when you see these it is because someone lived there at one time and planted it. |
 | Coffee Fern Pellaea andromedifolia | Arroyo Burro Trail Coffee fern is on the left. You can find these all over. Usually in the shade. |
 | Common Goldfields Lasthenia californica (L. chrysotoma) | Spring, Carrizo Plains |  | Common Goldfields Lasthenia californica (L. chrysotoma) | Spring, Cottam Camp in Blue Canyon |  | Common Locoweed Astragalus didymocarpus | May, Hurricane Deck These are pretty common is dry places and will rattle like a rattlesnake when brushed against after they've gone to seed. |
 | Common Madia Madia elegans | Davy Brown Trail Fir Canyon in June. In part sun/part shade. |
 | Common or Bush Sunflower Helianthus annuus or Encelia californica | Isla Vista Beach Bluffs These are common in natural areas in town and on the trails, too. |
 | Common or White Yarrow Achillea | May, near Manzana Schoolhouse Likes shade |
 | Coreopsis and Filaree Asteraceae and Erodium cicutarum | Carrizo Plain The pink is Erodium cicutarium, the Filaree. The yellow is Coreopsis, a member of the Asteraceae family. These both grow closer to Santa Barbara as well. |
 | Crane's bill geranuium Geranium molle | Manzana Trail Shade loving and very tiny. |
 | Cream Cups Platystemon californicus | Spring, Carrizo Plains |  | Crinkle Onion Allium crispum | Figueroa Mountain Apparently this variety grows exactly here. They are about 6 inches high and so pink you can see them from the road, if you are observant. |
 | Crystalline iceplant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum | Crystalline iceplant These were growing behind a low beach wall on Jalama Beach. They are sort of juicy and fleshy like berries almost. When they bloom the flower is white and fringy like regular iceplant. |
 | Cut-leafed geranium Geranium dissectum | March or April, Rattlesnake Connector At first I thought these were Red Maids. I found just the one patch almost at the junction with Tunnel Trail. They might be Carolina geraniums, but they have no hairs at the end of the petals as I saw described somewhere. |
 | Deerweed Lotus scoparius | When deerweed dries up it becomes a bare, scratchy bush that brushes against your legs on trails like Lost Valley Trail. It always seems ok at first, but by the end of the hike you are cursing the things. That is why I always hike in pants now. |  | Delphinium Delphinium parryi | Spring, near Forbush Flat |  | Delphinium Delphinium parryi | Spring, Manzana Trail to the Schoolhouse |  | Delphinium Delphinium parryi | Spring, Hurricane Deck |  | Desert Candle Caulanthus inflatus | Carrizo Plains I think wildflower enthusiasts like these so much because they are so weird. They are about knee-high, waxy, with a thick, fleshy green stalk and small bulbous purple flowers barely hanging from thin threads from the sides. |
 | Desert monkeyflower Mimulus bigelovii | Spring, Hurricane Deck and Lost Valley Trail junction |  | Dodder or Strangleweed Cuscuta | May, Hurricane Deck Dodder is a parasitic plant and can be found in dry places like Hurricane Deck or by the ocean. |
 | Douglas Wallflower Erysimum capitatum | May at Manzana Schoolhouse Camp Another reliable place I've seen these is on Lost Valley Trail near the Oak Tree campsite. Just before it. They like shade. |
 | Doveweed or Turkey mullein Eremocarpus setigerus | Malibu near beach On a bluff near Pepperdine University. A type of Spurge. |
 | Dudleya or Live Forever or Hen and Chicks Dudleya | April, Agua Caliente Trail |  | Dudleya or Live Forever or Hen and Chicks Dudleya | Cold Springs Trail These were such a glorious red I couldn't resist another picture. |
 | Elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Toro Canyon Park This is very common and usually grows in the more moist areas, such as near creeks. Makes blue berries which don't taste all that good. I noticed some web sites say it can be poisonous. |
 | Elegant Clarkia Clarkia similis | Spring, Lost Valley Trail near Hurricane Deck I believe this is a special clarkia found only in this area. |
 | Elegant Clarkia Clarkia unguiculata | Manzana Trail They grow in abundant patches in late May/early June, and like sun or shade. |
 | Evening Primrose Camissonia boothii | Willow Springs Trail Near Figueroa Mountain, off Catway Road. I have seen them near Carrizo Plains, too. |
 | Fairy Lantern or Globe Lily Calochortus albus | May, near Manzana Schoolhouse In various stages of going to seed. You can see the fruit in the upper right corner. |
 | Farewell to Spring Clarkia cylindrica | Spring, Manzana Trail to the Schoolhouse These can be found along Highway 154 as well in late spring. |
 | Fennel Foeniculum vulgare | Isla Vista Invasive weed. Tastes like licorice. You can eat this. It's the same as what's in the store, and was imported from Europe. |
 | Fiddlenecks Amsinckia menziesii | Santa Barbara Potrero Or thereabouts. Or maybe the Carrizo Plain. Can't remember where I took the picture, but I've seen it in both places, and on top of Little Pine Mountain. It likes meadows. |
 | Fiesta Flower Pholistoma auritum | Spring, Rattlesnake Trail The year I took this photo (2003) these were covering an entire hillside on the trail and were stunning. They prefer moist shady places under oak trees. |
 | Fire poppy Papaver californicum | McMenemy Trail Blooms in April or May. Very small. Flower was only 1 inch or so wide. Grew in a somewhat shady spot on south-facing slope in a lush, moist area. Flower books say they are abundant after a fire. |
 | Fleabane Asters Erigeron foliosus | Early Summer on Lost Valley Trail This was growing near that first little camp near the creek. Not many flowers were left at this time, but there were quite a few of these in shady spots. |
 | Foothill Penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus | Manzana Trail The buds are yellow and the blooms are electric blue. The plant is about 2ft. high. |
 | Fragrant Pitcher Sage Lepechinia fragrans | Tequepis Trail Grow in sun, bloom in summer. When flower fades, leaves behind a crispy, papery shell that can be green to brown to reddish. |
 | Fragrant Pitcher Sage Lepechinia fragrans | Tequepis Trail Grow in sun, bloom in summer. When flower fades, leaves behind a crispy, papery shell that can be green to brown to reddish. |
 | Fuchsia-flowering Gooseberry Ribes speciosum | May, Hurricane Deck These are pretty common in shady places or on north-facing slopes. |
 | Giant Coreopsis Coreopsis gigantea | March, Oso Flaco Dunes To see the Giant Coreopsis is one good reason to go to the dunes. |
 | Giant-Flowered Phacelia Phacelia grandiflora | Spring, Tom's Hippie House Trail near Cold Springs Trail |  | Giant-Flowered Phacelia Phacelia grandiflora | Spring, Tom's Hippie House Trail near Cold Springs Trail |  | Gilia Gilia capitata | Spring, Gidney Ridge These range from white to pale lavender and sometimes form near carpets of blossoms. |
 | Godetia Clarkia Clarkia amoena | I identified this one from a gardener's web site. It looks just like a flower I used to sell at the flower stand, but a little different. It is definitely Clarkia, but I am not perfectly sure that Godetia is its exact common name. |  | Golden Ear-drops Dicentra chrysantha | Manzana Trail It grew in the sun near but away from the river. |
 | Golden Stars Bloomeria crocea | Upper Davy Brown Trail These are summer blooming and like grassy meadows and hills. |
 | Golden Yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum | Cold Springs Trail |  | Gumplant Grindelia camporum | Summer, Bill Wallace Trail Actually not on the trail, but wandering in the hills above the campground. |
 | Gumplant Grindelia camporum | Summer, Malibu In a natural area near the beach. |
 | Hairy Bur-marigold or Beggar-ticks Bidens pilosa | Cold Springs Trail A weed. |
 | Hairy or Narrowleaf Fringe-pod Thysanocarpus curvipes | Spring, Carrizo Plain |  | Hareweed, Gumweed Tarweed or Sticky Madia Madia gracilis | Romero Trail These small flowers grow next to the trail kind of as if they were weeds instead of wildflowers. Maybe they are. |
 | Harvest Brodiaea Brodiaea jolonensis | Much purpler than this picture. Member of the Amaryllis family. Seen on the Tresspass trail near Gaviota. |  | Hawkweed Hieracium argutum | Tunnel Trail Summer blooming member of sunflower family. |
 | Hedge Nettle Stachys bullata | Cold Springs Trail past Forbush Flat These are members of the mint family. |
 | Horsetail Equisetum arvense | Romero Trail These grow in or next to creeks. They are also purchased at the nursery for the garden. |
 | Humboldt Lily Lillium paradalinum | Late spring, Fir Canyon Sometimes the flowers don't make it because of a bug that eats it before it can bloom. |
 | Hummingbird Sage Salvia spathacea | May at Manzana Schoolhouse Camp Also called Scarlet Pitcher Sage. Common in shady moist places under oak trees. |
 | Ice Plant Conicosia pugioniformis | March, Oso Flaco Dunes |  | Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis | Spring, Little Pine Mountain along the trail |  | Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis | Spring, near Forbush Flat |  | Indian Paintbrush Castilleja affinis (yellow Paintbrush) | Spring, Little Pine Mountain in the burn area |  | Indian Pink Silene californica | Boulder Creek Trail out of Dough Flat More toward Ojai. |
 | Indian Pinks Silene laciniata | Rattlesnake Trail These grow in the shade in the lower sections of our frontcountry trails and bloom in summer or spring. |
 | Indian Pinks Silene laciniata | Cold Springs Trail These are rather strange-looking Indian pinks. They are larger with a dark center. We thought maybe there was a bug in the center, but it was just the stamens. |
 | Indian Warrior Pedicularis densiflora | Trail to the Playgrounds These flowers are members of the figwort family and are parasitic on the roots of certain chaparral plants. I saw them growing under chamise bushes. |
 | Islay Cherry Prunus ilicifolia | Grows all over in Chaparral, has edible cherries in early fall. Also called Holly-leaf cherry. |  | Johnny Jump-up Viola pedunculata | Early Spring, Arroyo Burro Trail going down the North side These are common on Snyder Trail near Paradise Road, too. |
 | Lanceleaf Dudleya Dudleya lanceolata | Lost Valley Trail at the Pine Tree Actually right underneath the pine tree. The flowers extend from a stalk from the middle of the plant and form a little umbrella of smaller stems with these waxy little flowers attached. |
 | Large-flowered lotus Lotus grandiflorus | Blue Canyon Trail These are pretty common near the coast in the early spring. They last pretty long, but they don't smell like anything. |
 | Long-beaked filaree Erodium botrys | McMenemy Trail These are a type of geranium. Very small, about 2-3 inches high with a flower about 1/2 inch in diameter. |
 | Lupine Lupinus bicolor | Spring, near Zaca Peak You can drive out to the end of Cataway road and walk a little ways to see this display. |
 | Lupine Lupinus bicolor | Spring, near Zaca Peak These were exceptionally blue. |
 | Maidenhair Fern Madiantum jordanii | These can be found in the shade in moist places like near creeks. They are pretty common. They also like waterfalls. |  | Manzanita Arctostaphylos ssp. | Trail to the Playgrounds A common chaparral plant, easily recognized by the red, peeling bark. Blooms in spring. |
 | Mariposa Lily Calochortus catalinae | Spring, Little Pine Mountain Grew in a recently burned area. Also called Catalina Marioposa Lily. |
 | Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus | Manzana Trail Here's a yellow mariposa lily. |
 | Milkmaids Cardamine californica | Cold Springs Trail Milkmaids are some of the first to bloom in spring. They like the deepest shade and moist canyon hillsides not to far from creeks. |
 | Miner's Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata | Spring, Rattlesnake Connector Trail Miner's Lettuce is very common in shady areas and is edible. |
 | Miner's Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata | Willow Springs Trail Very common in front and backcountry. Grows in shade, very tiny, sometimes the leaf is reddish. Edible. This one was varigated. |
 | Mission bells or checkered lily Fritillaria ojaiensis | Cold Srings Trail near the Santa Ynez River I've seen a good patch of these on the Santa Cruz trail near the trailhead (the real trailhead, not the dirt road). Some other flower web sites show pictures of these the color of chocolate lillies. Grows in deep shade and blooms in spring. |
 | Morning Glory Calystegia macrostegia | West Fork Cold Springs This picture is good to see the buds, which are flat and triangular. The leaves are shaped like triangular arrowheads, too. |
 | Mountain Lilac or Ceanothus Ceanothus spp. | Late winter/early spring (same thing for Santa Barbara) Ceanothus blooms in shades of white to lilac. Smells wonderful as you walk under canopies of it. |
 | Mountain Lilac or Spiny ceanothus Ceanothus spinosus | Matilija Canyon Early Spring. Matilija Canyon is near Ojai, but I saw lots of lavendar ceanothus in Santa Barbara, as well. |
 | Mountain Mahogany seeds Cerocarpus betuloides | These can be found in the chaparral. The flowers are white. These are the seeds. |  | Mountain violet Viola purpurea | Mission Pine Basin Grew in sandy washes. Bloomed in April. |
 | Mulefat Baccharis salicifolia | Romero Canyon These are members of the sunflower family. They are invasive. They like to grow near creeks. |
 | Mustang Mint Monardella lanceolata | Davy Brown Trail Likes sun. Blooms in June. Attracts butterflies. Found also on Manzana trail toward Schoolhouse. |
 | Mustard Evening Primrose Camissonia californica | Romero Trail These small flowers are recognizable by their four petals and slender, bare stalks. |
 | narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia | Hurricane Deck There are many kinds of flowers that look similar to this and that are related. Seems like half the flowers in our region are some variation of the sunflower, which are also a variation of Aster. |
 | Nevada Cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis | Manzana Creek The distribution map of this sub species does not put it in Santa Barbara County, but it is in Ventura County. Perhaps it has arrived here on somebody's boot. It was found in the shade on the bank of Manzana Creek on the way to the schoolhouse. |
 | Owl's Clover Orthocarpus purpurascens | Spring, Aliso Trail Owl's clover is pretty common and likes grassy meadows. |
 | Oyster Plant Tragopogon porrifolius | Parma Park European biennial found near dirt roads. It produces a large dandilion like seed display. The roots are edible. |
 | Pearly Everlast Gnaphalium californicum | Manzana Trail Also called California Everlasting. Has a nice butterscotch smell especially after it dries more. |
 | Periwinkle Vinca major | Cold Springs Trail Periwinkle is non-native. It has naturalized near creeks in our frontcountry. Usually when you see periwinkle it means that at some time in the past someone probably had a homestead there. |
 | Phacelia Phacelia ciliata | Spring, Carrizo Plain |  | Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum | Toro Canyon Looks like Queen Anne's Lace, but is Poison Hemlock. It really is poisonous. |
 | Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobum | Spring Poison oak can be found almost anywhere, but particularly in moist shady areas under the trees. |
 | Popcorn Flower Borage, Cryptantha spp. | Willow Springs Trail I think "Popcorn Flower" is a catch all name for tiny, fluffy white flowers. But apparently they are identified quite precisely by microscopic examinations. I didn't do any of that, of course. |
 | Prickly Phlox Leptodactylon californicum | Spring, Hurricane Deck and Lost Valley Trail junction |  | Prickly Phlox Leptodactylon californicum | Spring, East Camino Cielo Road |  | Prince's Plume Stanleya pinnata | May at Manzana Schoolhouse Camp |  | Purple Perez Acourtia microcephala? | Spring, Potrero Trail A botanist friend identified this. I have never seen the purple part. In summer it dries up and is very crunchy as you walk on or by it. It tends to grow under the Chamise. |
 | Purple Sage Salvia leucophylla | Spring, Potrero Trail Purple sage is quite common. |
 | Purple Sage Salvia leucophylla | Jesusita Trail Purple sage is quite common. |
 | Red Maids Calandrinia ciliata | Carrizo Plains The camera doesn't quite capture the electric red that these are. They look way too purple-pink here. |
 | Rock Rose Helianthemum scoparium | Cold Springs Trail This resembles deerweed in a way, and can be found growing next to it. |
 | Rose clover Trifolium hirtum | McMenemy trail April in the sun. |
 | Rose Snapdragon Antirrhinum multiflorum | Montecito Peak These flowers are a little sticky to the touch. |
 | Scarlet Bugler Penstemon Penstemon centranthifolius | Spring, Lost Valley Trail at junction with Hurricane Deck I waited a very long time to take a picture of the hummingbird. These flowers attract hummingbirds. |
 | Scarlet Larkspur Delphinium cardinale | Gibraltar Rd near Flores Flats Upper Cold Springs near Montecito Peak has lots of these, as does East Camino Cielo Road near the end of the pavement. Blooms around summer solstice. |
 | Scarlet Monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis | Davy Brown Trail/Fir Canyon These grow near creeks. They don't have a lot of flowers in a bunch like regular orange monkey flowers. |
 | Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis | This little plant is usually considered a weed, and grows like one too. But it appears on wildflower lists all the time and has a respectable name. I have always loved these. I used to play with them when I was a child in Goleta. |  | Seep Monkey-flower Mimulus guttatus | Spring, Franklin Trail A reliable place to see these is on Happy Canyon Road just past the shooting range. They grow around springs. |
 | Shooting star Dodecatheon | Spring, Snyder Trail Shooting stars are one of the earliest spring flowers and prefer shady or north-facing grassy hillsides. |
 | Slender Tarweed Hemizonia fasciculata | Malibu near the beach on a bluff |  | Snakeweed Gutierrezia californica | Snakeweed Lost Valley Trail. Has very tiny flowers. Bloomed in fall next to trail. Originally mistaken for Golden Bush (Ericameria ericoides). |
 | Sneezeweed Helenium puberulum | Red Rock upper swimming hole I don't know what this is. It was growing in a seep at a swimminghole at Red Rock. It has no petals. |
 | Snowdrop bush Styrax officinalis | West Camino Cielo Rd. I've seen these on the trail to the Playgrounds, too. Likes less than full sun. |
 | Soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum | Toro Canyon Finally I find out what bloomed from the distinctive, low-growing, long, narrow lily-like leaves I kept seeing on the trail. These are very tall. |
 | Star Lily or Death Camas Zigadenus fremontii | Spring, Rattlesnake Trail |  | Star Thistle Centaurea solstitialis | East Camino Cielo Rd. Invasive weed, grows everywhere. Is easily confused with Tocolote, but has longer thorns and is generally taller. Seems to grow at lower elevations than Tocolote can. |
 | Sticky Phacelia Phacelia viscida | May, Hurricane Deck These like full sun and poor soil. I found them in gypsum-rich soil. |
 | Stinging lupine Lupinus hirsutissimus | Spring, Aliso Trail The ID for this is a guess. The only similar photo I found was much bluer than this one. Lupines are members of the pea family, as is the yellow flower in the background. |
 | Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica | Manzana River Stinging nettle hurts very much. It often cloggs the trail at river crossings, forcing you to brush against. it. Avoid it if you can. |
 | Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica | Davy Brown Trail Stinging nettle hurts very much. It often cloggs the trail at river crossings, forcing you to brush against. it. Avoid it if you can. |
 | Stream Orchid Epipactis gigantea | Found near streams. You may find it where you also find horse tails. It is a true orchid, and despite the "gigantea" in the name, it is very small. The flowers are about an inch or less in size. |  | Suncups Camissonia bistorta | Carrizo Plain Low growing spring flower. |
 | Tall stephanomeria or Wand chicory Stephanomeria virgata | Arroyo Burro Trail Summer blooming. Likes sun and can be seen growing along East Camino Cielo Rd. |
 | Tamarisk or Saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima | Red Rock Invasive, non-native weed. Drinks too much water and can suck water resources dry, depriving other plants of water. |
 | Thick-leaved Yerba Santa Eriodictyon crassifolium | Romero Trail These are common wherever sunny, sagey places are. It looks just like Yerba Santa only with white flowers instead of purple. |
 | Thistle Circium vulgare | Near 19 Oaks There are many kinds of thistles that look similar to this one. The heads on these are about 1 inch across. |
 | Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa | Spring, Camuesa Connector |  | Tocolote Centaurea melitensis | East Camino Cielo Rd. Invasive weed, grows everywhere. Is easily confused with Start thistle, but has shorter thorns and is generally a shorter plant. It also seems to have a larger range including higher altitude than star thistle. |
 | Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia | 19 Oaks This is the fruit. Fruit at Christmas. Flowers are white. Common chaparral shrub. |
 | Tree Tobacco Nicotiana glauca | Romero Trail These grow everywhere like weeds. Most people see them that way and rip them out. They bloom almost all year, and one year I was entertained daily by all the hummingbirds who fought over their tobacco tree. Very attractive to hummers. |
 | Turkish Rugging Chorizanthe staticoides | Cold Springs Trail There is a good patch on the dirt road at the powerlines on Cold Springs Trail. |
 | Twining snapdragon Antirrhinum kelloggii | West Fork Very small and really looks like a snapdragon, so it's easy to identify. |
 | Unknown little white flower | Carrizo Plains Grew under a juniper bush. |
 | Unknown small purple flower | Toro Canyon This small flower grew in the shade. |
 | Unknown tiny purple flower | Unknown flower Very short flower about 1 inch high. Grew on dirt road in sandy clay soil at about 4-5000' elevation above Carrizo Plains. |
 | Venus Thistle or Red Thistle Cirsium occidentale var. venustum | Davy Brown Trial Likes sun, blooms in summer. |
 | Verbena Verbena lasiostachys | Gaviota Hot Springs I can't remember if we went during Spring or Summer. This flower is quite common in disturbed areas. |
 | Wedge-leaf horkelia Horkelia cuneata | Toro Canyon A member of the rose family. Grew next to a dirt road in a spot that would probably have shade at least half the day. |
 | Weed's Mariposa Lily Calochortus fimbriatus | These hairy kind like to grow in sunny places half-way up the mountains and bloom early summer. I've seen them on Inspiration Point, Mission Ridge and near the power lines on Arroyo Burro trail. |  | Western Blue Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium bellum | Spring, near Upper Oso Campground |  | Western Sycamore seeds Platanus racemosa | Romero Trail I hadn't noticed the seeds of sycamore before they become fuzzy balls before. |
 | White Nightshade Solanum douglasii | Cold Springs Trail Actually, I took this picture on the road where you park. Likes shade. |
 | White Nightshade Solanum douglasii | Romero Trail Don't eat this. Poisonous. |
 | White Phacelia Phacelia viscida var.albiflora | West Fork Cold Springs On the upper, "illegal" trail. The latin name probably is not correct. I couldn't find a similar picture anywhere. |
 | White Sage Salvia apiana | Romero Trail People collect this sage to make those whitesage smudges or for incense that sort of smells like marijuana. |
 | Wild Carrot Daucus pusillus | Manzana Trail Also called Rattlesnake Weed. |
 | Wild Cucumber Marah macrocarpus | Grows in shade. The leaves around these flowers are not the leaves of the plant. The leaves of the plant are shaped more like ivy leaves and have a sparkly, fuzzy quality. These vines have curly tendrils that reach out to allow the plant to climb all over everything. Blooms in early spring. |  | Wild Cucumber or California Man-root Marah fabaceus | Probably late spring Wild cucumber is poisonous. Likes shade. Has a small cluster of white flowers and curly viny stems. The fruit, shown here, is very large and spiny. Don't eat it. |
 | Wild Parsley Apiaceae | Early Spring, Arroyo Burro Trail Related to carrot, I think. |
 | Wild Rose Rosa californica | June, Coldwater Camp on the Manzana Trail These are common in shady places near creeks. They can be found among the poison oak. They have very small buds and a wonderful rose scent. |
 | Willow Herb Clarkia Clarkia epilobioides | Cold Springs Trail Also called Fairy Fan. These are small and grew on the shady side of a hill. They had a pinkish bud. The red stuff growing with it is figwort. |
 | Wind poppy Stylomecon heterophylla | May, Hurricane Deck This is a rare find. I found it in deep shade on a north-facing slop at about 3-4000 feet elevation. |
 | Wine Cups Clarkia speciosa | Spring, Manzana Trail to the Schoolhouse Wine cups open only a little more than this. This picture was taken in the morning. They like grassy meadows. |
 | Wishbone Bush Mirabilis californica | Romero Trail These are members of the Four O' Clock family, but didn't seem to wait until four to open. |
 | Wishbone Bush Mirabilis californica | Tom's Hippie House trail near Cold Springs Trail These are members of the Four O' Clock family, but didn't seem to wait until four to open. |
 | Woodland star Lithophragma affine | April, Willow Springs Trail Most photographs I've seen don't show such a frilly petal. |
 | Wooly Blue Curls Trichostema lanatum | Tunnel Trail Wooly blue curls like burn zones and full sun. They have a pineapple-sage fragrance. |
 | Yellow Pincushion Chanactis glabriuscula | Figueroa Mountain Road Blooms in full sun in spring. Can be found in Little Pine Mountain area, too. |
 | Yellow Salsify Tragopogon dubius | May, Potrero Trail near Negis Cave I also saw this called Silver Puffs for the dandylion puffs it makes. |
 | Yellow Salsify Tragopogon dubius | Spring, Potrero Trail in the meadow I have heard another name for these but can't remember what it is! |
 | Yerba mansa Anemopsis californica | Gaviota Hot Springs I can't remember if we went during Spring or Summer. |
 | Yerba Santa Eriodictyon crassifolium | Manzana Trail Can be found on Lost Valley Trail, on Gibraltar Road, and in many places. It is quite common. |
