Plant of the Month
California Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat
Coastal sagebrush -- more commonly known as California coastal sage (Artemisia californica), is a very common plant of the Coastal Sage Shrub/scrub Habitat of southern California. Until the last hundred years or so, the coast, foothills and western slopes of southern California were virtually covered (except for beach, riparian and wetland areas) with this unique ecosystem. Unlike plants from further east, coastal sage scrub species adapted to an environment that rarely freezes in the winter and only occasionally experiences temperatures over 90-degrees F in summer. 
Two endangered bird species, Least Bell's Vireo and California Gnatcatcher, are dependent on this dense, low growing habitat. Unfortunately, the region was heavily developed over the past century, leaving only small pockets of this fascinating flora community. One such pocket can be found within Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego which, at nearly 6,000 acres in size, is the largest urban park in the world.
Although small patches of coastal shrub/scrub habitat will not support the vireo or the gnatcatcher, plants from that community will 
benefit other creatures from the region and are therefore good additions to personal and commercial landscapes in Southern California.
Plant of the Month Archives
December 2008 - Witch Hazel
January 2009 - Winterberry
March 2009 - Desert Ironwood
April 2009 - Marsh Marigold
May 2009 - Serviceberry
June 2009 - Choke Cherry
July 2009 - Northern Bush Honeysuckle
August 2009 - Butterfly-weed
September 2009 - Firecracker bush
October 2009 - Black Swallow-wort
November 2009 - Cranberries
December 2009 - Dogwood
January 2010 - Pinyon Pine
February 2010 - California Sage