Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) is a perennial grass (family Poaceae) and is located throughout California. Creeping bentgrass is an escaped turfgrass that can aggressively out-compete native grass species by forming dense mats.

Ammophila arenaria (European beachgrass) is a clumping perennial grass (family Poaceae) found in coastal dune systems from Santa Barbara County north. European beachgrass grows more densely than native American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), trapping passing sand and creating steep dunes that run parallel to the shoreline. This prevents new sand from reaching interior dunes, resulting in […]

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass) is a short-lived perennial grass (family Poaceae) that grows in hay fields, meadows, roadsides and along ditches. It is native to acidic grasslands of Eurasia and northern Africa. Leaves have a sweet scent, plants flower in late spring and early summer. Inflorescences are often dark in color; floret lemmas have […]

Arundo donax (giant reed) is a tall perennial grass (family Poaceae) that typically forms dense stands on disturbed sites, sand dunes, riparian areas, and wetlands. It has invaded central and coastal Southern California river valleys, central California river valleys in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento and San […]

Asparagus asparagoides (bridal creeper or African Asparagus fern) is a rhizomatous perennial herb (family Liliaceae) found in riparian woodlands of California’s central and south coast. Asparagus asparagoides colonizes both disturbed areas and undisturbed native habitats, but its current distribution is very limited. Plant shoots can form dense mats that limit light levels and then die […]

Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed) is an annual/perennial herb (family Liliaceae) found in dry, sandy and rocky places, as well as pastures, roadsides and waste places. Livestock avoid eating it, allowing it to create dense stands that crowd out more desirable forage species in pastures. It is primarily found along coastal regions of Southern California. It […]

Atriplex semibaccata (Australian saltbush) is a low-statured, spreading, shrubby perennial (family Chenopodiaceae) that is native to Australia. It is distinguished by its small, grey-green leaves that are white on the underside and red, diamond-shaped fleshy fruits. Australian saltbush was introduced as a forage plant in the 1920’s. Since then, it has escaped cultivation and is […]

Bassia hyssopifolia (fivehook Bassia) is an annual herb (family Chenopodiaceae) found throughout California, except in high elevation areas in the northwestern region of the state and Sierra Nevada Mountains. It prefers wetland areas, alkaline habitats and disturbed places such as roadsides and fields. Fivehook Bassia is acceptable forage for sheep in small amounts, but the […]

Bellardia trixago (Bellardia) is an annual herb (family Orobanchaceae) found in the San Francisco Bay region, southern Sacramento Valley, western North Coast Ranges and central coast of California. It is commonly found in disturbed grasslands, including rare serpentine grasslands, as well as along roadsides and in fields. Plants have an erect habit, grow to 50-70 […]

Brachypodium distachyon (annual false-brome, false-brome, purple false-brome) is a winter annual grass (family Poaceae) that is locally abundant in drier regions of California. Its native range is Eurasia with a primary distribution center in the Mediterranean. Annual false-brome has been introduced and become problematic across several other regions of the world. This grass can be […]