The Northern California coastal forests are a

temperate coniferous forests Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Temperate coniferous forests are found predominantly in areas with warm summers and cool winters, and vary in their kinds of plant life. In some, needlel ...

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...

of coastal

Northern California Northern California (colloquially known as NorCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Spanning the state's northernmost 48 counties, its main population centers incl ...

and southwestern

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

Setting

The ecoregion covers , extending from just north of the California-Oregon border south, to southern

Monterey County Monterey County ( ), officially the County of Monterey, is a county located on the Pacific coast in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, its population was 439,035. The county's largest city and county seat is Salinas. Montere ...

. The ecoregion rarely extends more than 65 km inland from the coast, narrower in the southernmost parts of the ecoregion. The ecoregion is a sub-ecoregion of the

Pacific temperate rain forests The Pacific temperate rainforests of western North America is the largest temperate rain forest region on the planet as defined by the World Wildlife Fund (other definitions exist). The Pacific temperate rainforests lie along the western side ...

ecoregion, which extends up the Pacific Coast to

Kodiak Island Kodiak Island (Alutiiq: ''Qikertaq''), is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, Kodiak Island is the second larges ...

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

. The ecoregion lies close to the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

, and is kept moist by Pacific Ocean storms during the winter months, and by coastal fogs in the summer months. These factors keep the ecoregion cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, as compared to ecoregions further inland. The ecoregion is also defined by the distribution of the Coast Redwood (''

Sequoia sempervirens ''Sequoia sempervirens'' ()''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 is the sole living species of the genus '' Sequoia'' in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal ...

''), with isolated groves located in protected canyons as far south as Redwood Gulch, in southern

. The greatest concentration of remaining

Old-growth forest An old-growth forestalso termed primary forest, virgin forest, late seral forest, primeval forest, or first-growth forestis a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance, and thereby exhibits unique ecological featur ...

are in the northernmost portion of the ecoregion, primarily within Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Major urban centers located within this ecoregion include the montane portions of various cities of the

San Francisco Peninsula The San Francisco Peninsula is a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area that separates San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. On its northern tip is the City and County of San Francisco. Its southern base is Mountain View, south of Palo A ...

Fort Bragg Fort Bragg is a military installation of the United States Army in North Carolina, and is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with around 54,000 military personnel. The military reservation is located within Cum ...

Eureka Eureka (often abbreviated as E!, or Σ!) is an intergovernmental organisation for research and development funding and coordination. Eureka is an open platform for international cooperation in innovation. Organisations and companies applying th ...

, and Brookings.

Habitats

Redwood forests are interspersed with several other plant communities throughout this ecoregion.

Coastal redwood forests

The dominant forest type in this ecoregion is the coastal redwood forest. These are the tallest forests on Earth, with individual redwood (''

'') trees reaching heights of . These forests are generally found in areas exposed to coastal fog. In the north, they occur on upland slopes, in riparian zones, and on riverine terraces. In the south, where annual precipitation is lower, they are constrained to coves and ravines. Coast Douglas-firs (''

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'' var. ''menziesii'', commonly known as Coast Douglas-fir, Pacific Douglas-fir, Oregon pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to western North America from west-central British Columbia, Canada southward t ...

'') are nearly always associated with redwoods, but in the north the forests can also include Sitka spruce (''

Picea sitchensis ''Picea sitchensis'', the Sitka spruce, is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree growing to almost tall, with a trunk diameter at breast height that can exceed 5 m (16 ft). It is by far the largest species of spruce and the fifth-larg ...

'') and western hemlock (''

Tsuga heterophylla ''Tsuga heterophylla'', the western hemlock or western hemlock-spruce, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonom ...

''). Like coast Douglas-fir, tanoak (''

Notholithocarpus densiflorus ''Notholithocarpus densiflorus'', commonly known as the tanoak or tanbark-oak, is a broadleaf tree in the family Fagaceae, and the type species of the genus ''Notholithocarpus''. It is native to the far western United States, particularly Oregon ...

'') is often present. Other hardwoods include California bay laurel (''

Umbellularia californica ''Umbellularia californica'' is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests and the Sierra foothills of California, and to coastal forests extending into Oregon. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province. It is the sole species in th ...

''), red alder (''

Alnus rubra ''Alnus rubra'', the red alder, is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America (Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana). Description Red alder is the largest species of alder in North A ...

''), madrone ('' Arbutus menziesii''), and bigleaf maple (''

Acer macrophyllum ''Acer macrophyllum'', the bigleaf maple or Oregon maple, is a large deciduous tree in the genus '' Acer''. It is native to western North America, mostly near the Pacific coast, from southernmost Alaska to southern California. Some stands are a ...

''). The deep shade cast by redwoods often results in a sparse understory, but shade-tolerant species include thimbleberry (''

Rubus parviflorus ''Rubus parviflorus'', commonly called thimbleberry, (also known as redcaps) is a species of ''Rubus'' native to northern temperate regions of North America. The plant has large hairy leaves and no thorns. It bears edible red fruit similar in a ...

''), redwood sorrel ('' Oxalis oregana''), elk clover (''

Aralia californica ''Aralia californica'', known by the common name elk clover though not actually a clover, is a large herb in the family Araliaceae, the only member of the ginseng family native to California and southwestern Oregon. It is also called California a ...

''), dwarf Oregon grape ('' Mahonia nervosa''), salal (''

Gaultheria shallon ''Gaultheria shallon'' is an evergreen shrub in the heather family (biology), family (Ericaceae), native to western North America. In English, it is known as salal, shallon, or (mainly in Britain) gaultheria. Description ''Gaultheria shallo ...

''), and many ferns, such as deer fern ('' Blechnum spicant''), sword fern (''

Polystichum munitum ''Polystichum munitum'', the western swordfern, is an evergreen perennial fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns in forested areas. It occurs along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to southern ...

''), and leathery polypody ('' Polypodium scouleri''). File:Notholithocarpus densiflorus Big Basin State Park.jpg, '

'', with Coast Douglas-firs ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'' subsp. ''menziesii'' and

Coast Redwood ''Sequoia sempervirens'' ()''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 is the sole living species of the genus '' Sequoia'' in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal ...

behind in Sunset Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz Mountains, California. File:Boulder Creek Wilderness forest.JPG, Forest of Coast Douglas-firs ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'' subsp. ''menziesii''

Mixed evergreen forests

Mixed evergreen forests are found just inland of the redwood forests, on

Franciscan Assemblage The Franciscan Complex or Franciscan Assemblage is a geologic term for a late Mesozoic terrane of heterogeneous rocks found throughout the California Coast Ranges, and particularly on the San Francisco Peninsula. It was named by geologist Andr ...

soils that receive moderate to high rainfall. The trees are a variety of needle-leaved and broad-leaved evergreen species. Characteristic trees include coast Douglas-fir (''

''), canyon live oak (''

Quercus chrysolepis ''Quercus chrysolepis'', commonly termed canyon live oak, canyon oak, golden cup oak or maul oak, is a North American species of evergreen oak that is found in Mexico and in the western United States, notably in the California Coast Ranges. This ...

''), tanoak (''

''), madrone ('' Arbutus menziesii''), California bay laurel (''

''), and golden chinquapin (''

Chrysolepis chrysophylla ''Chrysolepis chrysophylla'' is a species of flowering shrub or tree in the beech family known by the common names golden chinquapin, giant chinquapin, and western chinquapin. It is native to the Pacific coast of the United States.McMurray, Nanc ...

''). The shrub understory is dense and diverse; beaked hazel (''

Corylus cornuta ''Corylus cornuta'', the beaked hazelnut (or just ''beaked hazel''), is a deciduous shrubby hazel with two subspecies found throughout most of North America. Description The beaked hazelnut can reach tall with stems thick with smooth gray b ...

''), evergreen huckleberry (''

Vaccinium ovatum ''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a North American species of flowering shrub known by the common names evergreen huckleberry, winter huckleberry, cynamoka berry and California huckleberry. Distribution and ecology ''Vaccinium ovatum'' is a small to medium ...

''), Pacific rhododendron (''

Rhododendron macrophyllum ''Rhododendron macrophyllum'', the Pacific rhododendron, California rosebay, California rhododendron, coast rhododendron or big leaf rhododendron, is a large-leaved species of ''Rhododendron'' native to the West Coast of the United States, Pacific ...

''), salal (''

''), Sadler's oak (''

Quercus sadleriana ''Quercus sadleriana'' is a species of oak known by the common names Sadler's oak and deer oak. It is native to southwestern Oregon and far northern California in the Klamath Mountains. It grows in coniferous forests. It is placed in section '' ...

''), dwarf Oregon-grape ('' Mahonia nervosa''), and poison oak (''

Toxicodendron diversilobum ''Toxicodendron diversilobum'' (syn. ''Rhus diversiloba''), commonly named Pacific poison oak or western poison oak, is a woody vine or shrub in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. It is widely distributed in western North America, inhabiting coni ...

'') are typically found.

Closed-cone conifer forests and woodlands

Closed-cone pine forests are found in small, scattered patches throughout the ecoregion, typically adjacent to maritime chaparral. Common pines are lodgepole pine (''

Pinus contorta ''Pinus contorta'', with the common names lodgepole pine and shore pine, and also known as twisted pine, and contorta pine, is a common tree in western North America. It is common near the ocean shore and in dry montane forests to the subalpine ...

''), bishop pine (''

Pinus muricata ''Pinus muricata'', the bishop pine, is a pine with a very restricted range: mostly in California, including several offshore Channel Islands, and a few locations in Baja California, Mexico. It is always on or near the coast. In San Luis Obispo ...

''), Monterey pine (''

Pinus radiata ''Pinus radiata'' ( syn. ''Pinus insignis''), the Monterey pine, insignis pine or radiata pine, is a species of pine native to the Central Coast of California and Mexico (Guadalupe Island and Cedros island). It is an evergreen conifer in the fa ...

''), and knobcone pine ('' Pinus attenuata''). These forests are also home to several

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

cypresses, including Monterey cypress ('' Cupressus macrocarpa''), Gowen cypress (''

Cupressus goveniana ''Cupressus goveniana'', now reclassified as ''Hesperocyparis goveniana'', with the common names Californian cypress and Gowen cypress, is a species of cypress, that is endemic to California. Distribution The tree is endemic to the Monterey Pen ...

''), and Santa Cruz cypress (''

Cupressus abramsiana The Santa Cruz cypress (''Hesperocyparis abramsiana''; formerly classified as ''Cupressus abramsiana'') is a species of North American tree within the Cypress family. The species is endemic to the Santa Cruz Mountains within the Santa Cruz and S ...

''). Shrub species include glossyleaf manzanita ('' Arctostaphylos nummularia''), bog Labrador tea (''

Rhododendron groenlandicum ''Rhododendron groenlandicum'' (bog Labrador tea, muskeg tea, swamp tea, or in northern Canada, Hudson's Bay tea; formerly ''Ledum groenlandicum'' or ''Ledum latifolium'') is a flowering shrub with white flowers and evergreen leaves that is used ...

''), evergreen huckleberry (''

''), salal (''

''), Pacific rhododendron (''

''), and California bayberry (''

Myrica californica ''Myrica californica'' (California bayberry, California wax myrtle or Pacific wax myrtle; syn. ''Gale californica'' (Cham. & Schltdl.) Greene, ''Morella californica'' (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wilbur) is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the ...

''). Soil conditions sometimes cause these forests to take on a pygmy form. Lichens and mosses are both abundant and diverse. File:P20130507-0077—Pinus muricata—Point Reyes (8742046080).jpg, ''

'' forest growing at

Point Reyes Point Reyes (, meaning "Point of the Kings") is a prominent cape and popular Northern California tourist destination on the Pacific coast. Located in Marin County, it is approximately west-northwest of San Francisco. The term is often appli ...

, California File:Cupressus abramsiana on sandstone at Brackenbrae - Flickr - theforestprimeval.jpg, Forest of ''

'' growing in sandstone Chaparral, Brackenbrae Ridge, Santa Cruz County, California File:Cupressus goveniana & Pinus radiata, SFB Morse Botanical Reserve, Monterey County.jpg, Gowen Cypress ''

'' (smaller trees) and Monterey Pine ''

'' (larger trees), at the SFB Morse Botanical Reserve, Huckleberry Hill, Monterey County, California. File:Redwood and fog.jpg, ''

'' and ''

'' in fog, in Redwood National Park, California

Maritime chaparral

Maritime chaparral is composed of a variety of shrubs that grow in the fog belt.

Endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

species of manzanita (''

Arctostaphylos ''Arctostaphylos'' (; from "bear" and "bunch of grapes") is a genus of plants comprising the manzanitas () and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees. There are about 60 species, of ''Arctostaphylos'', ranging from ground-hugging arc ...

'') and ''

Ceanothus ''Ceanothus'' is a genus of about 50–60 species of Actinorhizal plant, nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceano ...

'' are locally common. Manzanita species include woolyleaf manzanita (''

Arctostaphylos tomentosa ''Arctostaphylos tomentosa'' is a species of manzanita known by the common name woollyleaf manzanita or woolley manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California. It is a resident of chaparral canyons, foothills, and lower-elevation mountains. On ...

''), glossyleaf manzanita ('' Arctostaphylos nummularia''), Hooker's manzanita (''

Arctostaphylos hookeri ''Arctostaphylos hookeri'' is a species of manzanita known by the common name Hooker's manzanita. Description ''Arctostaphylos hookeri'' is a low shrub which is variable in appearance and has several subspecies. These are generally mat-forming p ...

''), pajaro manzanita ('' Arctostaphylos pajaroensis''), Montara manzanita (''

Arctostaphylos montaraensis ''Arctostaphylos montaraensis'', known by the common name Montara manzanita, is a species of manzanita in the family Ericaceae. Distribution This perennial evergreen shrub is endemic to California, native only to a few occurrences in northern ...

''), and others. Gasquet manzanita ('' Arctostaphylos hispidula'') occurs in southern Oregon. Among ''Ceanothus'', hairy ceanothus ('' Ceanothus oliganthus'') is common, while Mason's ceanothus ('' Ceanothus masonii''), Carmel ceanothus ('' Ceanothus griseus''), and wart-stem ceanothus ('' Ceanothus verrucosus'') are local endemics. Other widespread shrubs and trees include chamise (''

Adenostoma fasciculatum ''Adenostoma fasciculatum'', commonly known as chamise or greasewood, is a flowering plant native to California and Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the California chaparral ecoregion. Chamise produces a specia ...

''), California buckwheat (''

Eriogonum fasciculatum ''Eriogonum fasciculatum'' is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names California buckwheat and flat-topped buckwheat. Characterized by small, white and pink flower clusters that give off a cottony effect, this species grows vari ...

''), black sage (''

Salvia mellifera ''Salvia mellifera'' (black sage, also known as seel by the Mahuna) is a small, highly aromatic, evergreen shrub of the genus ''Salvia'' (the sages) native to California, and Baja California, Mexico. It is common in the coastal sage scrub of Sou ...

''), coffeeberry (''

Rhamnus californica ''Frangula californica'' (previously classified as ''Rhamnus californica'') is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family native to western North America. It produces edible fruits and seeds.http://honest-food.net/2014/08/13/california ...

''), buckthorn (''

Rhamnus crocea ''Rhamnus crocea'', the spiny redberry, is a species of plant in the family Rhamnaceae. There are two subspecies: ''Rhamnus crocea'' subsp. ''crocea'' (redberry buckthorn) and ''Rhamnus crocea'' subsp. ''pilosa'' (hollyleaf buckthorn). It is nat ...

''), and coast live oak (''

Quercus agrifolia ''Quercus agrifolia'', the California live oak, or coast live oak, is a highly variable, often evergreen oak tree, a type of live oak, native to the California Floristic Province. It may be shrubby, depending on age and growing location, but is ...

''). This habitat is often found near closed-cone conifer forests and woodlands. File:Ceanothusoliganthus.jpg, '' Ceanothus oliganthus'' in chaparral in the Santa Monica Mountains File:California Buckwheat (4776487528).jpg, Eriogonum fasciculatum on Mount Wilson, San Gabriel

Coastal grassland

Northern coastal grasslands, or coastal prairies, are generally found below on coastal terraces or mountain balds. In areas where fire has been suppressed, coastal scrub plants invade. Common grasses include bentgrass (''

Agrostis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species * '' Agrostis aequivalvi'' ...

'' spp.), California brome (''

Bromus carinatus ''Bromus carinatus'' is a species of brome grass known by the common names California brome and mountain brome. Distribution It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It ...

''), Nootka reedgrass (''

Calamagrostis nutkaensis ''Calamagrostis nutkaensis'' is a species of grass known by the common names Pacific reedgrass and Nootka reedgrass. It is native to western North America from Alaska to central California, where it is mainly a coastal species growing in moist a ...

''), California oatgrass (''

Danthonia californica ''Danthonia californica'' is a species of grass known by the common name California oatgrass. This plant is native to two separate regions of the Americas, western North America from California to Saskatchewan, and Chile. Description ''Danthonia ...

''), red fescue (''

Festuca rubra ''Festuca rubra'' is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue or creeping red fescue. It is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and can tolerate many habitats and climates. It is best adapted to well-drained soils in c ...

''), Idaho fescue (''

Festuca idahoensis ''Festuca idahoensis'' is a species of grass known by the common names Idaho fescue and blue bunchgrass. It is native to western North America, where it is widespread and common. It can be found in many ecosystems, from shady forests to open plai ...

''), tufted hair-grass ('' Deschampsia caespitosa''), prairie Junegrass (''

Koeleria macrantha ''Koeleria macrantha'' is a species of grass known by the common name prairie Junegrass in North America and crested hair-grass in the UK. It is widespread across much of Eurasia and North America. It occurs in many habitat types, especially prai ...

''), tall trisetuem ('' Trisetum canescens''). Common forbs include Douglas iris (''

Iris douglasiana ''Iris douglasiana'', the Douglas iris, is a common wildflower of the coastal regions of Northern and Central California and southern Oregon in the United States. It grows mainly at lower elevations, below , though it is occasionally found at hei ...

''), western blue-eyed grass (''

Sisyrinchium bellum ''Sisyrinchium bellum'', the western blue-eyed grass or Californian blue-eyed grass, is the common blue-eyed grass of California and Oregon in and west of the Sierra Nevada, its range extending south into Baja California. In parts of its range, ...

''), hairy gumplant ('' Grindelia hirsutula''), and footsteps of spring ('' Sanicula arctopoides''). File:DouglasIris.jpg, ''

'' patch at

File:Grindelia stricta.jpg, '' Grindelia hirsutula'' patch in

Marin County Marin County is a county located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 262,231. Its county seat and largest city is San Rafael. Marin County is acros ...

Coastal scrub

Northern coastal scrub consists of shrublands found at elevations below on bluffs, terraces, dunes, and hills near the coast. This habitat is often subject to wind and maritime fog. The shrubs are mostly evergreen, small-leaved, and

sclerophyllous Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat. The plants feature hard leaves, short internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem) and leaf orientation which is parallel or oblique to direct ...

. Characteristic species include coyote brush (''

Baccharis pilularis ''Baccharis pilularis'', called coyote brush (or bush), chaparral broom, and bush baccharis, is a shrub in the family Asteraceae native to California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California. There are reports of isolated populations in New Mex ...

''), yellow bush lupine (''

Lupinus arboreus ''Lupinus arboreus'', the yellow bush lupine (US) or tree lupin (UK), is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. Description ''Lupinus arboreus'' is an evergreen shrub growing to tall (hence the alternative common name, tree ...

''), blueblossom (''

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ''Ceanothus thyrsiflorus'', known as blueblossom or blue blossom ceanothus, is an evergreen shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae that is endemic to Oregon and California in the US. The term 'Californian lilac' is also applied to this and othe ...

''), seaside woolly sunflower ('' Eriophyllum stoechadifolium''), sticky monkey-flower ('' Mimulus aurantiacus''), poison oak (''

''), California blackberry (''

Rubus ursinus ''Rubus ursinus'' is a North American species of blackberry or dewberry, known by the common names California blackberry, California dewberry, Douglas berry, Pacific blackberry, Pacific dewberry and trailing blackberry. Description ''Rubus ursin ...

''), thimbleberry (''

''), salmonberry (''

Rubus spectabilis ''Rubus spectabilis'', the salmonberry, is a species of bramble in the rose family Rosaceae, native to the west coast of North America from west-central Alaska to California, inland as far as Idaho. Like many other species in the genus ''Rubus' ...

''), coffeeberry (''

''), oceanspray (''

Holodiscus discolor ''Holodiscus discolor'', commonly known as ocean spray or oceanspray, creambush, or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America. Description ''Holodiscus discolor'' is a fast-growing deciduous shrub usually from to in height, and up to ta ...

''), salal (''

''), cow parsnip (''

Heracleum maximum ''Heracleum maximum'', commonly known as cow parsnip, is the only member of the genus '' Heracleum'' native to North America. It is also known as American cow-parsnip, Satan celery, Indian celery, Indian rhubarb or pushki. Description Cow p ...

''), and western sword fern (''

''). Coastal grassland succeeds to coastal scrub in the absence of fire, and coastal scrub succeeds to mixed evergreen forest under further absence of fire.

Riparian woodlands and shrublands

Riparian woodlands and shrublands are a mosaic of tree-dominated plant communities and open shrublands found along rivers. Species composition varies with elevation, slope, floodplain width, and flooding history. Nevertheless, common trees include white alder (''

Alnus rhombifolia ''Alnus rhombifolia'', the white alder, is an alder tree native to western North America, from British Columbia and Washington east to western Montana, southeast to the Sierra Nevada, and south through the Peninsular Ranges and Colorado Desert oa ...

''), red alder (''

''), box elder (''

Acer negundo ''Acer negundo'', the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or inv ...

''), Fremont cottonwood (''

Populus fremontii ''Populus fremontii'', commonly known as Frémont's cottonwood, is a cottonwood (and thus a poplar) native to riparian zones of the Southwestern United States and northern through central Mexico. It is one of three species in ''Populus'' sect ...

''), red willow ('' Salix laevigata''), coast Douglas-fir (''

''), California sycamore (''

Platanus racemosa ''Platanus racemosa'' is a species of plane tree known by several common names, including California sycamore, western sycamore, California plane tree, and in North American Spanish aliso. ''Platanus racemosa'' is native to California and Baja ...

''), coast live oak (''

''), and bigleaf maple (''

''). Common shrubs include sandbar willow (''

Salix exigua ''Salix exigua'' (sandbar willow, narrowleaf willow, or coyote willow; syn. ''S. argophylla, S. hindsiana, S. interior, S. linearifolia, S. luteosericea, S. malacophylla, S. nevadensis,'' and '' S. parishiana'') is a species of willow native to m ...

'') and arroyo willow (''

Salix lasiolepis ''Salix lasiolepis'' (arroyo willow) is a species of willow native to western North America. Distribution The core range of the arroyo willow includes most of California, including the California Coast Ranges, Arizona, Klamath Mountains, Penin ...

'').

Live oak woodlands and savannas

Live oak woodlands and savannas are dominated by coast live oak (''

''). Canopy cover varies from dense forest to open savannas. In forests, California blackberry (''

''), creeping snowberry (''

Symphoricarpos mollis ''Symphoricarpos mollis'', with the common names creeping snowberry, Southern California snowberry, and trip vine, is a shrub in the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae).Flowering Plans of the Santa Monica Mountains, Nancy Dale, 2nd. Ed, 2000, p. ...

''), toyon (''

Heteromeles arbutifolia ''Heteromeles arbutifolia'' (; more commonly by Californian botanists), commonly known as toyon, is a common perennial shrub native to extreme southwest Oregon, California, and the Baja California Peninsula. It is the sole species in the genus ...

''), and poison oak (''

'') are common in the understory.

Ponderosa pine forests

Some of the rarest forests that occurs in this coastal region are the

Maritime Coast Range Ponderosa Pine forests The maritime coast range ponderosa pine forests are rare temperate forest assemblages associated with a limited range portion of the Santa Cruz Mountains of northern California. There are only three known small forests of this type, all situated in ...

, an example of which occurs in the

Carbonera Creek Carbonera Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 15, 2011 watercourse in Santa Cruz County, California, that eventually flows to the San Lorenzo River. The str ...

watershed of

Santa Cruz County, California Santa Cruz County (), officially the County of Santa Cruz, is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 270,861. The county seat is Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz County comprises the Santa ...

Protected areas

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a linear state park in southwestern Oregon, in the United States. It is long and thickly forested along steep and rugged coastline with a few small sand beaches. It is named in honor of Samuel H. Boa ...

Tolowa Dunes State Park Tolowa Dunes State Park is a California State Park located in Del Norte County, on the North Coast of California. The park encompasses Lake Earl, Lake Tolowa, and a significant portion of the relatively large coastal plain around them includ ...

* Patricks Point State Park *

Redwood National and State Parks The Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) are a complex of one national park and three state parks, cooperatively managed, located in the United States along the coast of northern California. Comprising Redwood National Park (established 1968 ...

* Humboldt Redwoods State Park *

Headwaters Forest Reserve The Headwaters Forest Reserve is a group of old growth coast redwood (''Sequoia sempervirens'') groves in the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion near Humboldt Bay of the U.S. state of California. Comprising about , it is managed by t ...

* King Range *

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is a state park in Mendocino County, California. The wilderness area borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and the King Range National Conservation Area to the north. The nearest settlement is the unincorporated ...

* South Fork Eel River Wilderness *

Jackson Demonstration State Forest Jackson Demonstration State Forest is a public forest in Mendocino County, California managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is the largest demonstration forest operated by the State of California. The forest la ...

Mendocino Headlands State Park Mendocino Headlands State Park is a California State Park in Mendocino, California Mendocino ( Spanish for "of Mendoza") is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. Mendocin ...

* Jenner Headlands * Montgomery Woods State Reserve * Van Damme State Park * Manchester State Park *

Salt Point State Park Salt Point State Park is a state park in Sonoma County, California, United States. The park covers on the coast of Northern California, with of hiking trails and over of a rough rocky coastline including Salt Point which protrudes into the Pa ...

* Austin Creek State Recreation Area * Grove of Old Trees *

Sonoma Coast State Beach Sonoma Coast State Park is a State of California property in Sonoma County consisting of public access use on lands adjoining the Pacific Ocean. This extent of beach runs from a coastal point about north of Jenner and continues for approximatel ...

Golden Gate National Recreation Area The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is a U.S. National Recreation Area protecting of ecologically and historically significant landscapes surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of the park is land formerly used by the United ...

San Bruno Mountain State Park San Bruno Mountain State Park, officially San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, is a park located in northern San Mateo County, California. It is adjacent to the southern boundary of San Francisco and borders the cities of Brisbane, South Sa ...

San Bruno Mountain Ecological Reserve The San Bruno Mountain Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve of on the north slope of San Bruno Mountain, south of San Francisco, California, adjacent to the San Bruno Mountain State Park. It is managed by the California Department of Fish and ...

Montara State Beach Montara State Beach is a beach located in the coastal region of the U.S. state of California, eight miles north of Half Moon Bay on State Route 1. It is operated by the California State Department of Parks and Recreation under the San Mateo Co ...

Rancho Corral de Tierra Rancho Corral de Tierra (Guerrero y Palomares) was a Mexican land grant in present-day coastal western San Mateo County, northern California. The larger northern part of Rancho Corral de Tierra was given in 1839 by Governor Pro-Tem Manuel Jimeno ...

* Mills Creek Open Space Preserve *

Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve Miramontes is a Spanish-language surname. People with the surname include: * Isabel Miramontes (born 1962), Spanish-born Belgian sculptor * Jonathan Miramontes (born 1988), Mexican professional footballer * Luis E. Miramontes (1925–2004), Mexic ...

* Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve *

Edgewood County Park Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve is a 467-acre protected area located in San Mateo County, California, United States, and is best known for its spring wildflower displays. The park receives about 50,000 visitors each year. Description E ...

* Teague Hill Open Space Preserve * Wunderlich County Park *

El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

* Tunitas Creek Open Space Preserve *

La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve The La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve is a publicly accessible 6,142-acre open space reserve in San Mateo County, California, part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It opened to the public in November 2017. The preserve was establis ...

Windy Hill Open Space Preserve Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a regional park located in San Mateo County, California and operated by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD). It is readily identifiable from the flatlands of the South Bay, as it is the only "na ...

* Palo Alto Foothills Park *

Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is a 274-acre (1.11 km2) open space preserve, located in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, California, near Los Altos Hills, California. The preserve contains about 5 miles (8 km) of hiking trails, of ...

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is a open space preserve, located near Palo Alto in the Santa Cruz Mountains, in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, California, United States. The preserve encompasses the upper Stevens Creek watershed in the ...

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land. City skyline ...

* Stevens Creek County Park * Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve *

Long Ridge Open Space Preserve Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 2,035 acre open space preserve along Long Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Recreation Long Ridge has 13.5 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, including the Bay Area Ridge Trail ...

* Sanborn Skyline County Park * Castle Rock State Park * Sam McDonald County Park *

Pescadero Creek County Park Pescadero Creek Park, located near Loma Mar, California, Loma Mar, San Mateo County, California, United States, is operated by the San Mateo County Department of Parks. The park complex of also includes the neighboring Memorial Park (San Mateo C ...

Pescadero State Beach Pescadero State Beach () is alongside State Route 1, located 14.5 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 1.5 miles west of the city of Pescadero in San Mateo County, California. The beach has a mile-long shoreline with sandy coves, rocky cliffs, tid ...

Butano State Park Butano State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, showcasing the secluded redwood-filled canyon of Little Butano Creek, a tributary of Butano Creek in the Pescadero Creek watershed. Located in San Mateo County near Pescadero, ...

* Burleigh H. Murray Ranch *

Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve The Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of historic Kings Mountain in Woodside, California. This preserve was established with a $2 million gift from the Save the Redwoods League. Purisima Creek a ...

* Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve *

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift ...

* Ano Nuevo State Reserve *

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving mainly forest and riparian areas in the watershed of the San Lorenzo River, including a grove of old-growth coast redwood. It is located in Santa Cruz Coun ...

* Wilder Ranch State Park *

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a state park of California, United States, protecting a secondary forest in the watershed of Aptos Creek and Soquel Creek within the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is located outside Aptos, California and conta ...

Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve The Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a public open space preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The preserve is located along both sides of Bear Creek Road, west of State Route 17 and Lexington Reservoir, and mostly north and east of t ...

Portola Redwoods State Park Portola Redwoods State Park is a state park in California situated in San Mateo County. The parks' primary watercourses — Peters Creek, Pescadero Creek and their associated tributaries — converge at Portola Redwoods State Park. Tip Toe Fa ...

References

External links

*{{WWF ecoregion, name=Northern California coastal forests, id=na0519
Sempervirens Fund
( ttp://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/ecoregions/50519.htm slow modem version
Conifers of Northwest California
Temperate coniferous forests of the United States Forests of California Pacific temperate rainforests Plant communities of California Nearctic ecoregions Redwood National and State Parks Geography of Humboldt County, California Ecoregions of California Plants by habitat

Setting

Habitats

Coastal redwood forests

Mixed evergreen forests

Closed-cone conifer forests and woodlands

Maritime chaparral

Coastal grassland

Coastal scrub

Riparian woodlands and shrublands

Live oak woodlands and savannas

Ponderosa pine forests

Protected areas

See also

References

External links