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
The wavy-leafed soap plant or California soaproot, is the most common and most widely distributed of the soap plants or soaproots, which make up the genus Chlorogalum of flowering plants.
Conservation
The crimson columbine or western columbine, is a common and attractive wildflower native to western North America.
Conservation
Armeria maritima, commonly known as the pink sea thrift, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plumbaginaceae.
Conservation
The pearly everlasting, is an Asian and North American species of flowering perennial plant in the sunflower family.
Conservation
Aesculus californica, commonly known as the California buckeye or California horse-chestnut, is a species of buckeye native to California and southwestern Oregon.
More about Native Plants
Our Work
Learn more about Green Thumbs Up! , an education program for grade 4 at the Native Plant Nurseries.
Our Work
Learn more about Petal Pushers , an education program for grade 3 at the Native Plant Nurseries.
Our Work
Learn more about Seeds to Flowers , an education program for grade 2 at the Native Plant Nurseries.
Our Work
The Parks Conservancy nurseries are hubs of community and education programming. We aim to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for youth to explore their connection with nature.
Our Work
The Parks Conservancy sponsors the Presidio Native Plant Nursery Manzanita Project that works to cultivate Franciscan Manzanitas, a plant once thought to be extinct in the wild.
Park E-Ventures Article
On a crisp morning in April, the Parks Conservancy and the Presidio Trust made in a 46-cubic yards of soil, enough to feed tens of thousands of native plants throughout the parks. The “recipe” and procedure behind this many-handed effort is a must-read for any dirt devotee.
Park E-Ventures Article
To commemorate Volunteer Appreciation Day at Golden Gate, multimedia intern Lauren Gee made a video about why volunteers choose to donate their time in the parks. Lauren noticed one thing in common with everyone she interviewed: Undeniable joy as they opened up to her about their volunteer experiences.
Park E-Ventures Article
A new year brings a new start for an extraordinary plant once thought to be extinct. Learn how our Presidio Native Plant Nursery is helping to re-establish the Franciscan manzanita—and its close relative the Raven’s manzanita—in your national park.
Park E-Ventures Article
Our trees may not change even a hue and our weather may not get much chillier, but you can find hints of more “traditional” autumn phenomena in the Golden Gate National Parks. Save yourself the plane ticket to the Northeast, and find the fall in the national parks in your...
Park E-Ventures Article
Our trees may not change even a hue and our weather may not get much chillier, but you can find hints of more “traditional” autumn phenomena in the Golden Gate National Parks. Save yourself the plane ticket to the Northeast, and find the fall in the national parks in your...
Park E-Ventures Article
Most of the year, we like to feature soft, picture-perfect native plants that beckon you to frolic in the parklands. But for Halloween, we’re profiling the ghoulish wild cucumber, which features some diabolically scary fruit—and a terrifying rate of growth.
Park E-Ventures Article
Dive back into the weird world of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), as we see how nursery staff and interns are demystifying the growing process for these fascinating plants that live beneath the surface of Mountain Lake in the Presidio.
