Cytisus striatus (Portuguese broom) is a perennial shrub (family Fabaceae) found in the San Francisco Bay region, Peninsular Ranges and south coast of California. It is commonly found in coastal scrub and grasslands, where it is expected to continue to expand its range. Portuguese broom was introduced as a landscape ornamental, and is often confused […]

Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass) is an aggressive perennial grass (family Poaceae) widespread throughout California. It grows in any type of soil, is drought resistant, and can overrun some grasslands. Orchard grass is a desirable pasture grass but has escaped cultivation in many natural areas throughout the United States.

Egeria densa (Brazilian Egeria) is a common aquatic perennial (family Hydrocharitaceae) that occurs in lakes, springs, ponds, and streams. Its underwater growth significantly retards water flow and decreases the abundance and diversity of native plant seeds in lake bottoms. It was introduced as a freshwater aquarium plant.

Echium candicans (pride-of-Madeira) is a shrub (family Boraginaceae) found along the central and south coast of California, and in the San Francisco Bay region. This native to Madeira and the Canary Islands inhabits open coastal bluffs and hillsides. Pride-of-Madeira is a common landscape ornamental requiring a summer source of moisture in inland areas, but can […]

Dittrichia graveolens (stinkwort) is a fall-flowering, sticky aromatic annual (family Asteraceae) that is native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia.  It was first recorded in California in 1984 and has rapidly spread across many parts of the state since its introduction. Stinkwort has glandular-haired leaves and stems and grows to a height of […]

Dipsacus sativus (Fuller’s teasel) is a biennial (family Dipsacaceae) found in California’s Coastal and Peninsular Ranges and the San Francisco Bay area. It favors disturbed sites, including grasslands, roadsides, ditches and riparian sites. Fuller’s teasel’s spiny flower heads were used for carding wool before metal carding combs were created. Teasel plants may grow to form […]

Dipsacus fullonum (wild teasel) is a biennial forb/herb (family Dipsacaceae) that is native to Eurasia and northern Africa and naturalized across much of the United States and Canada. It can grow up to 2.5 m and is characterized by its prickly stems, leaves, and inflorescences, lanceolate leaves that are typically fused in pairs around the […]

Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) is an erect, knee-high to head-high herbaceous perennial (family Scrophulariaceae) found along the central and northern California coast and in Sierra Nevada foothills, infesting moist meadows and roadsides. All parts of the plant are toxic. It readily colonizes areas of soil disturbance, forming dense patches that displace natural vegetation.

Descurainia sophia (flixweed) is an annual or biennial (family Brassicaceae) found throughout California along roadsides, in agricultural fields, disturbed desert areas, scrub, grasslands and woodlands. It is most common in the northeastern region, particularly in the Great Basin. It tends to prefer well-drained sandy or stony soils. Flowering flixweed plants can be toxic to cattle […]

Rytidosperma penicillatum (= Danthonia pilosa) (hairy wallaby grass) is a perennial (family Poaceae) native to Australia. It is also found in Oregon and is expanding in disturbed open areas, meadows, and conifer forests of northern California (more recently also in southern CA). Plants grow to less 1 m high, grow as small bunch grasses, and have […]