Myosotis latifolia (common forget-me-not) is a perennial or annual herb (family Boraginaceae) found primarily in coniferous and riparian areas along the coast in northern and central California. It is native to northwestern Africa and was introduced into North America as a garden ornamental. Common forget-me-not is low-statured, with pale blue to pink radiate flowers in […]

Euphorbia virgata (leafy spurge) is a perennial (family Euphorbiaceae) rhizomatous erect herb. Euphorbia esula can be found in scattered locations throughout northern California and crowding out native plant species. It can invade and dominate a variety of vegetation types, including prairies, grasslands and pine savannahs.

Euphorbia oblongata (eggleaf spurge) is a root-sprouting perennial forb (family Euphorbiaceae) that is native to southeastern Europe and Turkey and found across much of coastal northern California along streambanks, in woodlands, meadows, dry hillsides, and disturbed areas. It grows to 0.5m, has green-to-yellow foliage and leaves that are oval, 4-6 cm long. Seeds can remain […]

Euphorbia terracina (carnation spurge) is a perennial or biennial species(family Euphorbiaceae) found on California’s south coast. Carnation spurge forms dense patches in disturbed grasslands, coastal bluffs, dunes, salt marshes, riparian areas and oak woodlands. Although carnation spurge was recently introduced to California and is not yet widely distributed, it has the potential to spread rapidly. […]

Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue) is a perennial grass with coarse foliage (family Poaceae) found throughout California except in the Great Basin and deserts. It favors sites with heavy soil, including grassland, coastal scrub, roadsides, ditches and other disturbed sites. Tall fescue is commonly planted for turf and hay or erosion control, but it has escaped […]

Ficus carica (edible fig) is a small tree (family Moraceae) that is native to the Mediterranean region and southwestern Asia that has been grown since ancient times as a food source and an ornamental. Plants are deciduous, with large leaves that have 3-5 lobes and stems with smooth, white/grey bark, and fruits that are soft […]

Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) is an erect perennial herb (family Apiaceae). Although the plant is very common throughout the state, dense local populations have been reported from Santa Cruz Island, in fields around the San Francisco Bay region, Palos Verdes Peninsula (Los Angeles County), and Camp Pendleton (San Diego County). It can drastically alter the composition […]

Gazania linearis (Gazania) is a perennial herb (family Asteraceae) introduced as an ornamental plant. It has been reported escaping into creekside vegetation and into native grassland from plantings in San Francisco, Monterey, and Ventura Counties, where it can form a dense groundcover and outcompete other species.

Genista monspessulana (French broom) is a perennial shrub (family Fabaceae) from the Mediterranean region and the Azores that was introduced as an ornamental along with Scotch and Spanish broom. In California, it now occurs across the state, including the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Transverse Ranges, Channel Islands and San Francisco Bay area. French broom is […]

Geranium dissectum (cutleaf Geranium) is an annual or biennial forb/herb (family Geraniaceae) found throughout California along waste ground, grasslands, and hedge banks. It can compete with native vegetation for resources.