Places › Cities › San Diego › Plants

Plants of San Diego, California

The plants most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

217,858
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 217,858 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Buckwheat, with 13,094 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include Torrey Pine - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Torrey Pine

Most-observed plants near San Diego

California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
13,094 observations · iNaturalist
Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
10,807 observations · iNaturalist
California Brittlebush
Encelia californica
8,496 observations · iNaturalist
Laurel Sumac
Malosma laurina
7,137 observations · iNaturalist
Red Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus puniceus
6,635 observations · iNaturalist
Chilicothe
Marah macrocarpa
6,566 observations · iNaturalist
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
6,195 observations · iNaturalist
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
5,852 observations · iNaturalist
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
5,757 observations
Coastal Goldenbush
Isocoma menziesii
5,508 observations · iNaturalist
Garland Daisy
Glebionis coronaria
5,501 observations · iNaturalist
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
5,325 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
5,323 observations
Bladderpod
Cleomella arborea
5,139 observations · iNaturalist
Coast Cholla
Cylindropuntia prolifera
4,588 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
4,564 observations · iNaturalist
Tornleaf Goldeneye
Bahiopsis laciniata
4,282 observations · iNaturalist
San Diego Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus viridescens
4,178 observations · iNaturalist
Chalk Dudleya
Dudleya pulverulenta
4,121 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
4,054 observations · iNaturalist
Mission Manzanita
Xylococcus bicolor
3,969 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
3,887 observations · iNaturalist
White Sage
Salvia apiana
3,846 observations · iNaturalist
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
3,734 observations · iNaturalist
Fingertips
Dudleya edulis
3,648 observations · iNaturalist
Thick-leaved Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
3,637 observations · iNaturalist
Mojave Yucca
Yucca schidigera
3,390 observations · iNaturalist
Chaparral Yucca
Hesperoyucca whipplei
3,320 observations · iNaturalist
California Centaury
Zeltnera venusta
3,306 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey Pine
Pinus torreyana
3,239 observations
Alkali Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
3,224 observations · iNaturalist
Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
3,218 observations · iNaturalist
Garden Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
3,126 observations · iNaturalist
Bermuda Buttercup
Oxalis pes-caprae
3,117 observations · iNaturalist
Santa Barbara Milkvetch
Astragalus trichopodus
3,102 observations · iNaturalist
Splendid Mariposa Lily
Calochortus splendens
3,052 observations · iNaturalist
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
3,037 observations · iNaturalist
Western Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
3,017 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
3,007 observations
Clustered Tarweed
Deinandra fasciculata
2,965 observations · iNaturalist
Wishbone Bush
Mirabilis laevis
2,956 observations · iNaturalist
Telegraphweed
Heterotheca grandiflora
2,935 observations · iNaturalist
Tree Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
2,892 observations · iNaturalist
Shaw's Agave
Agave shawii
2,874 observations · iNaturalist
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
2,842 observations · iNaturalist
Crystalline Ice Plant
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
2,732 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia arvensis
2,686 observations · iNaturalist
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
2,684 observations
Weed's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus weedii
2,660 observations · iNaturalist
Redberry Buckthorn
Rhamnus crocea
2,634 observations · iNaturalist

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.

Plants in nearby places

Out spotting plants near San Diego?

Take Huck with you. Identify any plant you find in seconds and build your collection.

Get Huck

Love plants? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.