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Plants of California

The plants most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

1,398,564
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 1,398,564 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the California Poppy, with 61,435 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in California

California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
61,435 observations
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
55,593 observations
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
55,534 observations · iNaturalist
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
49,925 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
47,891 observations
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
43,858 observations
Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
43,402 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
39,590 observations · iNaturalist
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
34,973 observations
Orange Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus aurantiacus
34,827 observations · iNaturalist
Western Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
32,819 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
31,936 observations
Beavertail Pricklypear
Opuntia basilaris
31,220 observations
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
30,023 observations
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica
29,119 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
28,557 observations · iNaturalist
Bermuda Buttercup
Oxalis pes-caprae
28,032 observations · iNaturalist
California Brittlebush
Encelia californica
26,700 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia arvensis
26,700 observations · iNaturalist
Chaparral Yucca
Hesperoyucca whipplei
26,470 observations · iNaturalist
California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
26,281 observations
Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
26,075 observations · iNaturalist
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
25,914 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Elder
Sambucus cerulea
25,557 observations · iNaturalist
Coast Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
25,478 observations
Redstem Stork's-bill
Erodium cicutarium
25,289 observations · iNaturalist
Laurel Sumac
Malosma laurina
24,918 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
24,876 observations
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
24,306 observations · iNaturalist
California Bay
Umbellularia californica
23,939 observations · iNaturalist
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
23,528 observations · iNaturalist
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
23,355 observations · iNaturalist
Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
22,700 observations
Mojave Yucca
Yucca schidigera
22,029 observations · iNaturalist
Chilicothe
Marah macrocarpa
20,578 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
19,964 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Radish
Raphanus raphanistrum
19,541 observations · iNaturalist
Wavy-leafed Soap Plant
Chlorogalum pomeridianum
19,480 observations · iNaturalist
White Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
19,280 observations · iNaturalist
Pacific Hound's Tongue
Adelinia grandis
19,051 observations · iNaturalist
Western Joshua Tree
Yucca brevifolia
18,580 observations
Tree Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
18,280 observations · iNaturalist
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
18,092 observations · iNaturalist
Chia
Salvia columbariae
17,911 observations · iNaturalist
California Beeplant
Scrophularia californica
17,776 observations · iNaturalist
Silver Cholla
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
17,752 observations · iNaturalist
Distant Phacelia
Phacelia distans
17,579 observations · iNaturalist
Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
17,447 observations · iNaturalist
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
17,255 observations · iNaturalist
Common Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
17,149 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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