Native Plants
Learn more about individual native plants found in the Golden Gate National Parks and grown in our nurseries for restoration projects.
Have you seen a beautiful wildflower while in the park and want more information about it? We have over 1200 species of plants native to these Parks (Recreation Area). Here we have information on many of the wildflowers and plants you will see along the trails in the park, and ones we have used to restore habitats and plant communities throughout the Parks. Below is just a sample of what you might see. Click on the name of a plant (scientific name followed by common name) to go to a page with a picture of the plant and information about it:
Native Plants in the Parks
Conservation
Triteleia laxa is a triplet lily known by several common names, including Ithuriel's spear, common triteleia and grassnut.
Conservation
Red elderberry is a widespread shrub to small tree that occurs in moist cool places, including our own Redwood Creek.
Conservation
Arroyo willow is an abundant and widespread native tree or shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California.
Conservation
Rosa californica , the California wildrose, or California rose, is a species of rose native to the U.S. states of California and Oregon and the northern part of Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation
Frangula californica is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family native to western North America. It is commonly known as California coffeeberry and California buckthorn.
Conservation
Quercus agrifolia , the coast live oak, is a highly variable, often shrubby evergreen oak tree, a type of live oak, native to the California Floristic Province.
Conservation
Diplacus aurantiacus, the sticky monkey-flower or orange bush monkey-flower, is a flowering plant that grows in a subshrub form.
Conservation
Lilium pardalinum , also known as the leopard lily or panther lily, is a flowering bulbous perennial plant in the lily family.
Conservation
Iris douglasiana is a common wildflower of the coastal regions of Northern and Central California and southern Oregon in the United States.
Conservation
Heracleum lanatum , commonly known as cow parsnip, is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America.
Conservation
Live forever is a succulent that occurs in rocky areas and trail cuts. For example, you can find this plant in the Marin Headlands along the coastal trail above Rodeo Beach.
Conservation
The American dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae native to eastern North America and northern Mexico.
More about Native Plants
Gateways Article
Thanks in part to the work of Tamalpais Bee Lab volunteers, we now know there are HUNDREDS of different bees on Mt. Tam. As these photos indicate, you never know what amazing, colorful bees you'll see!
Gateways Article
One of our Presidio Native Plant Nursery volunteers is so dedicated, he's been volunteering for half his life! Find out what he has to say to fellow volunteers and those thinking about volunteering.
Volunteer
Thanks in part to the work of Tamalpais Bee Lab volunteers, we now know there are hundreds of different species of bees on Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. The work of community scientists has helped immensely as the Parks Conservancy, our One Tam partners, and Dr. Gretchen LeBuhn of San...
Article
California's state rock serpentine has two real powers: the ability to host rare and unique vegetation and its potential to help climate change.
Marin Parks Stewardship Newsletter Article
Let’s gather inspiration and delve into the cross-pollination of creativity and restoration!
Article
While this is an exciting change that many look forward to, it is nature's way of telling us that the season of spring is coming to a close.
Gateways Article
Shelagh Fritz, Program Manager for Alcatraz Historic Gardens, has worked to install an innovative rainwater catchment system on the Rock. We sat down with Shelagh to learn more.
Article
Spring brings so much life and joy into our parks, but did you know you had a special connection to a particular wildflower species based on your sign? Find out which flower is your special match!
Gateways Article
Although the wildflowers are numerous and diverse in a super bloom, there are still reasons to not step on or pick your local wildflowers. (As a reminder, it is illegal to pick or collect plants in national forests, parks, and monuments without a permit!)
Article
Have you ever wondered if the various plant and mushroom species you find when exploring San Mateo park sites are edible? You can’t take these with you, but you can get some ideas for your own garden and your next recipe!
Park E-Ventures Article
We can’t go back in time and stop giant redwoods from being cut down. But we can take material from old stumps, grow it in a special medium, and plant a grove of coast redwood saplings with super DNA, right here in the Presidio of San Francisco.
Our Work
Learn more about service-learning programs for youth of all ages at the Native Plant Nurseries.
