This is a list of San Francisco Bay Area wildflowers. The San Francisco Bay Area is unusual, for a major metropolitan area, in having ready access to rural and wilderness areas, as well as major urban parks.
List scope The native plants of the San Francisco Bay Area are not always typical of other regions of California, and some species are endemic. This list covers the flowers of the Bay Area one is most likely to see within its nine counties. It starts with flowers that are (a) common and/or (b) already have an article in Wikipedia. Flowering shrubs and trees are only included if their flowers are visually significant.
List The list is divided into forbs (herbs), shrubs, and trees.
Flowering herbs (forbs) California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Purple Chinese houses, Collinsia heterophylla San Francisco collinsia, Collinsia multicolor Yellow pansy, Viola pedunculata Franciscan wallflower, Erysimum franciscanum Douglas iris, Iris douglasiana Baby blue-eyes, Nemophila menziesii Coral bells, Heuchera spp. Western blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium bellum Calypso orchid, Calypso bulbosa Fiddlenecks, Amsinckia Blue flax, Linum lewisii Cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum Common star lily, Toxicoscordion fremontii Crimson columbine, Aquilegia formosa Wavy-leafed soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum Farewell to spring, Clarkia amoena
Bushes, shrubs, and climbers Bush lupin, Lupinus ssp. Manzanitas, Arctostaphylos spp. California wild grape, Vitis californica California lilacs, Ceanothus spp. Pipestem clematis, Clematis lasiantha Salmonberry, Rubus spectabilis California rose, Rosa californica California huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum California manroot, Marah fabacea Currants, Ribes spp. Chaparral currant, Ribes malvaceum
Flowering trees California buckeye, Aesculus californica Black elderberry, Sambucus nigra Pacific madrone, Arbutus menziesii Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia
Garden escapes Garden escapes are introduced species, plants that have established in the area - via their seeds, underground runners, or by exuberant growth - beyond the limits of gardens where planted. Some may be reproducing in the wild as invasive species and noxious weeds. Because of the large population of the Bay Area and its variety of garden styles, many plant species may be encountered as garden escapes. Among those seen are: Acacia spp. Bougainvillea spp. Common Broom (Spanish, French, others) Cortaderia spp. (Pampas grass) Eucalyptus spp. Forget-me-nots (Myosotis discolor and M. latifolia) Ice plant - several genera Ivy - Hedera spp. Lavender Nassella tenuissima - Mexican feather grass Pelargonium spp. Pennisetum setaceum Rubus armeniacus – Himalayan blackberry Searocket Vinca major
Weeds Purple salsify Artichoke thistle Red Valerian Herb Robert Wild radish Scarlet pimpernel Pale flax
See also
List of California native plants Index: Flora of the San Francisco Bay Area
External links Calflora Database — can create custom polygon on site's map to define scope of flora searches. CalPlants photo archive — can be searched by California county, or plant species. Jepson Interchange — search by plant name, geographical location, or other keys