During the week of September 7, the California Natural Resources Agency brings the state together to celebrate California Biodiversity Day. California is 1 of 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world! To achieve this designation, the region must:
- Hold at least 1,500 endemic plant species (species that are found nowhere else on Earth).
- Have already lost at least 70% of its original natural vegetation, leaving 30% or less intact.
Combined, these two things describe a place that is both biologically irreplaceable and under serious threat.
According to the 30×30 California initiative,
“Of any state in the USA, California has both the highest total number of species and the highest number of endemic species, including over 30% of all plant and vertebrate species found in the USA. At the same time, approximately 30% of California species are at risk of extinction.”
California has over 6,000 native plant species with 2,000 of them being endemic to California! We also host 1600 native bee species which is 40% of all bees in North America. California is so diverse in our natural spaces but due to traditional landscaping practices, we’ve limited the amount of biodiversity in our urban spaces. But! It’s an easier fix than you might think!
Here are 3 easy steps to increase biodiversity in our urban spaces…
1. Plant for Each Season:
Spring – Consider early blooming annuals like California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii). You can even include spring powerhouse perennials like Margarita BOP Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita BOP’), Blue Jean Mountain Lilac (Ceanothus ‘Blue Jeans’), and Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri).
Summer – California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica) is a summer showstopper but I also love Palmer’s Mallow (Abutilon palmeri). Each of these are covered in pollinators all throughout their blooming season.
Fall – I genuinely feel like every California fall garden should include California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum). There are multiple cultivars available and one will surely love a spot in your favorite container or flowerbed. Desert Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is another fall stunner with consistent flowers that keep the bees coming back for more.
Winter – This is a season a lot of people struggle to plan for but we have such cute winter bloomers in California! Manzanita, and our Currants and Gooseberry species are really great options. Emerald Carpet Manzanita (Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’) is a common species that can be found at some larger chain nurseries and a variety of smaller nurseries. Pink-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum) is a winter party of pink flowers.
2. Plant For a Variety of Wildlife:
Longue-tongued pollinators and hummingbirds benefit from trumpet shaped flowers like Showy Penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis), Island Morning Glory (Calystegia macrostegia), and Pink Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula).
Short-tongued pollinators enjoy the more round or flat topped shape flowers with multiple flowers close together like Island Pink Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ‘Island Pink’) and De La Mina Verbena (Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’).
Incorporating grasses like Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens), Canyon Prince Wild Rye (Elymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’), and Purple Three Awn (Aristida purpurea) provide seeds and nesting material.
And don’t forget the berries! California is home to a variety of berry producing plants that wildlife go nuts for! Eve Case Coffeeberry (Frangula californica ‘Eve Case’), Woodland Strawberry (Fragria vesca), and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) are just a few ideas to get you started.
3. Provide Habitat Basics:
Plant keystone species like California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons).
Provide shelter through larger shrubs and trees like California Wax Myrtle (Morella californica), Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata), and Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia).
Introduce more host plants like Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), and Deerplant (Acmispon glaber).
Provide a water source like a bubbler, bird bath, pond, or water fountain.
Taking action with any of these three steps can encourage more biodiversity wherever you live. If you live in a dense urban area with only an apartment patio, there are container-friendly native plants for you. If you live in a traditional suburb, you can make a huge difference by turning your front yard into a native plant haven. Live more rural? Consider planting native plants that are hyperlocal to your area to do the most good.
Planting native when and where possible is one of the easiest things we can do to make a difference in the ecosystems we live in.
Need help planning your native or drought tolerant landscape?