By: Cathy Jacobs, PH.D, Dept. of Biology
California State University Dominguez Hills

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Coastal Sage Scrub

Big Sycamore Canyon

California Dodder

Bush Gucelia

Coastal sage scrub is found on dry slopes, usually near the coast (although it can extend into inland valleys) below 3000 ft. This habitat is cooler than chaparral, but ironically often drier. Rainfall is often heavier at higher elevations, and coastal sage scrub often has rainfall under 10 in, qualifying it as a desert. The plants which occur here are not tolerant to frost, however, so they are limited to areas which generally do not freeze. However, fog is important, and the higher relative humidity and lower temperatures lead to less evaporation, making possible a scrub vegetation rather than desert. Coastal sage scrub is sometimes referred to as soft chaparral since many of the dominant plants bend

Bush Mallow

easily or have soft, flexible leaves. Many of the plants are drought-deciduous and strongly odoriferous. Some of the community’s plants and animals are also found in the desert. There is a pronounced difference between vegetation on north-facing and south-facing slopes. On south-facing slopes, the vegetation has small leaves and is often drought-deciduous. Some drought-deciduous plants are not totally deciduous, but may actually have seasonal leaf dimorphism, having only small terminal leaves during the hot season. Coast sagebrush, (Artemisia californica); California encelia; white, purple, and black sages; California buckwheat, Coyote bush, Sawtoothed goldenbush, coast goldenbush, and golden yarrow are typical plants. On north-facing slopes, lemonadeberry and many chaparral plants are found, such as toyon and laurel sumac. Prickly-pear cactus is also found abundantly here, especially after grazing by cattle. Two threatened birds, the California gnatcatcher and the cactus wren, are found here. The cactus mouse, pocket mice, deer mice, coyotes, agile kangaroo rats, and mountain lions are found here. This habitat is much reduced due to development.

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