Native Plants

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Plants Along the Los Angeles River

The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum has completed a major report on the plant and animal life along the Los Angeles River. Most of the plants and wildlife inhabit the section between the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin and Frogtown. The constant supply of reclaimed water and many natural sandy bottoms in this section has promoted the return of life. Many of these trees, shrubs, and reeds are washed away during winter floods.

The flora along the river was first described by Juan Crespi during the Portola expedition in 1769. Arriving at a location that was probably near Frogtown, Crespi wrote," ... we entered a very spacious valley, well grown with cottonwoods and alders, among which ran a beautiful river (the Los Angeles) from the north-northwest..."

Fording the river the next day, the spanish expedition..."entered a large vineyard of wild grapes and an infinity of rosebushes in full bloom. All the soil is black and loamy, and is capable of producing every kind of grain and fruit...". 10 These wild currants (left) and this wild rose (right) found in the Sepulveda basin are similar to what the Spanish first encountered.

Volunteers from the California Native Plant Society are replanting many native plants in the Sepulveda Basin in an experimental plot. C.N.P.S. also maintains a web site for K-12 lessons on plants. A section devoted to native plants that attract humming birds has also been planted in the Sepulveda Basin.

Loyola Marymount University has posted a web site on plants in the Ballona wetlands, and riparian woodland and freshwater marsh plants in southern California.

Here are some of the native plants that you might encounter along the river.

A large Sycamore tree, Platanus racemosa, played an early role in the establishment of Los Angeles. The central Gabrielino village of Yangna was located near a 60 ft. high, 200 ft. wide sycamore which was used for meetings amongst the Gabrielino leaders and was known as the "council tree". The Spanish settlement that later became the pueblo of Los Angeles was located next to Yangna, in sight of this stately tree. The settlement was washed away in the Great Flood of 1815, but the sycamore survived. It later died in 1892 and was cut down. A ring count revealed that the tree was 400 years old. It had started its life about the time Columbus first landed in America.23

Cottonwoods were very common trees along rivers and arroyos in California and the southwest. As cities and farmers have lowered water tables, these riparian trees have disappeared from many banks along arroyos in California, Nevada, and Arizona. The Fremont Cottonwood, Populus fremonti, was discovered in 1844 near Pyramid Lake by Major John Charles Fremont and Kit Carson. They used its riparian nature to help locate water. 20

Willows are also a common riparian tree in the southwest. Some are actually assisted by floods. The rushing water bends some branches down into a sand bar where they sprout new roots and plants. The Willow, Salix, leaves were used by Native Californians for medicine. The small branches were used for baskets, and the large branches for wood.

Cattail, Typha domingensis. California Indians used the roots and pollen for food, the roots for medicine, and the stalks for bedding and house construction material. 11

The Coastal Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia. An organization was created to promote its protection and replanting.

The state flower, the California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica. Nowhere is it more common then the California State Poppy Reserve, about a one hour drive north of here.

Spiny Clotbur, Xanthium spinosum , uses its spines to transport the seeds long distance with the help of animals who brush against it.

Gourds found in the Sepulveda Basin. During major winter storms these plants may be under the floodwaters that are held back by the dam.
Common Sunflower, Helianthus annuus.Native Californians used the seeds for food and the roots for medicine.
Duckweed, and two Bluets, if you can see them. Bluets are Blue Damselflies and are common along the river.
Reeds and grasses were used by native americans for baskets, cordage, and food from the seeds.
Jimson Weed was used by Native Americans as a ritual drug. It can be poisonous to humans and animals.

[ More about Non-Native Plants ]

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