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Northern Coastal Scrub Plant Community

Annual precipitation

(High humidity, low heat),
35-70 inches.

Common Plants

California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens), Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), Coastal Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum staechadifolium) Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus), and Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus). Thimble berry and Blackberries (Rubus ursinus)

An old photo of Northern coastal scrub. - grid24_12
 Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens makes a very nice groundcover in part shade. Will work in hot areas in nearly full shade. Full sun in cool coastal areas. Great between buildings in the 'gap'. - grid24_12
Ceanothus maritimus in foreground, Salvia Pt. Sal in background, and Baccharis Pigeon Point  in the rest of the picture. This ground cover has been in place for 30 years. It gets mowed to the ground about every 10 years and has had no water except at planting. - grid24_12
seaside daisy, San Simeon. Some of these areas are hard to define. Is this coastal strand, coastal sage scrub or coastal prairie? Probably coastal prairie. - grid24_12
What a nice looking plant. nThimbleberry makes a mini-thicket where there is moisture and cool sun to part-shade. - grid24_12

Soil and climate notes:

Soft and cool chaparral along the Northern California Coast. Plants from this area lend themselves to regular garden conditions.

The annual rainfall in the Northern Coastal Scrub plant community can vary from 25 to 75 inches. Temperatures remain mild throughout the year because of the proximity to the ocean. Although the temperature is mild here the wind and salt spray make this a harsh environment for plants. Plants remain low forming a dense or open scrub. This cover is home to such birds as the California Thrasher, a species endemic to California. The California Thrasher enjoys thrashing around in the leaf litter for insects. It is quite a fascinating and entertaining bird to watch. In the spring this plant community is in full bloom making quite a show of itself.

The Northern Coastal Scrub plant community is found near the ocean along northern California's coastline. The Northern Coastal Scrub forms a narrow band between the beach and the forest. Some common species include California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens), Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis), Coastal Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum staechadifolium) Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus), and Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus). Thimbleberry and Blackberries are also prevalent in the coastal sage scrub plant community.

There are a few cities and towns in Northern Coastal Scrub.

Don't lock yourself in to an absolute description of these plant communities, because they are essentially mosaics, and again, lots of times you cannot tell where one starts and the other ends. On one beachfront property, you may have three plant communities; for example Coastal Strand, Northern Coastal Scrub, and Redwood Forest!

Here is an example of Northern Coastal Sage Scrub in it's dormant state. - grid24_12
Sticky Monkey flower is native to coastal California and parts of the Sierras - grid24_12

How to make a Northern Coastal Scrub plant community in your garden

To make a Northern Coastal Scrub plant community in your garden is actually quite easy. Most of the dominant species in this plant community can withstand hot and cold temperatures even though they grow in a mild climate. Some of the smaller herbs may not be able to withstand extremes but they can take a lot if they are under the protection of your shrubs. One thing to keep in mind while designing your garden is that although these species are low on the coast they may not stay so low in your yard. Without the constant high wind and salt-laden air, some of these species will grow differently, so be forewarned. Some of these species grow better with a layer of mulch such as shredded redwood bark, and others prefer just a boulder placed next to them. Check the planting guide for more information.

Plants

A list of California native plants that grow in the Northern Coastal Sage Scrub plant community.

An approximate range of the Northern Coastal Scrub plant community - grid24_12
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Copyright © 1992-2025 Las Pilitas Nursery
Edited on Dec 01, 2013. Authors: Bert Wilson
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