Native Plant Species

Native Plant Species

Aquatic and Marsh Plants

name and description

Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata
17" tall

This plant can be found in the higher salt marsh where it often forms thick mats. If you feel the blades of this plant, they have crystals of salt on them. The plant can use salt water for its needs, by taking salt out of the water.

Marsh Gum Plant
Grindelia stricta
36" tall
This woody stemmed plant can be seen year round with yellow flowers. A sticky white resin can be felt on the stem which helps prevent water and nutrient loss. Provides a nesting site for sparrows and food for pollinating insects.

Needle Spike Rush
Eleocharis acicularis
This native perennial herb will grow between 2 and 8" tall in up to 12" of water. Usually this plant forms grass-like mats of cover in the water.

Common Pickleweed
Salicornia pacifica
24" tall

The pickle like stems of this marsh plant give it it's name. It gets rid of salt by concentrating it in
the red tipped stems which are shed every fall.

California Bullrush
Scirpus californicus
A common marsh plant that has stems growing to an average height of 6' tall. The stems have a curved triangular shape that to an untrained eye looks circular. It is used by various animals as a shelter and foraging ground.

Pacific Cordgrass
Spartina foliosa
36" tall

A tall grass-like aquatic plant that is represented by a native species, an introduced species (exotic)
and a hybrid of the two. It grows in the mud where it is flooded by the tides. Salt crystals can be found on its blades where it is excreted to keep the plant roots from drying out.

Soft Flag Cat-Tail
Typha latifolia
This plant grows in large stands with long narrow leaves. The seed pod is the brown "tail" shape at the end of a long stalk. They help to slow down water in a marsh area to remove pollutants and soil. Their extensive root systems help to stabilize banks to prevent erosion.

	name and description
	Salt Grass Distichlis spicata 17" tall This plant can be found in the higher salt marsh where it often forms thick mats. If you feel the blades of this plant, they have crystals of salt on them. The plant can use salt water for its needs, by taking salt out of the water.
	Marsh Gum Plant Grindelia stricta 36" tall This woody stemmed plant can be seen year round with yellow flowers. A sticky white resin can be felt on the stem which helps prevent water and nutrient loss. Provides a nesting site for sparrows and food for pollinating insects.
	Needle Spike Rush Eleocharis acicularis This native perennial herb will grow between 2 and 8" tall in up to 12" of water. Usually this plant forms grass-like mats of cover in the water.
	Common Pickleweed Salicornia pacifica 24" tall The pickle like stems of this marsh plant give it it's name. It gets rid of salt by concentrating it in the red tipped stems which are shed every fall.
	California Bullrush Scirpus californicus A common marsh plant that has stems growing to an average height of 6' tall. The stems have a curved triangular shape that to an untrained eye looks circular. It is used by various animals as a shelter and foraging ground.
	Pacific Cordgrass Spartina foliosa 36" tall A tall grass-like aquatic plant that is represented by a native species, an introduced species (exotic) and a hybrid of the two. It grows in the mud where it is flooded by the tides. Salt crystals can be found on its blades where it is excreted to keep the plant roots from drying out.
	Soft Flag Cat-Tail Typha latifolia This plant grows in large stands with long narrow leaves. The seed pod is the brown "tail" shape at the end of a long stalk. They help to slow down water in a marsh area to remove pollutants and soil. Their extensive root systems help to stabilize banks to prevent erosion.