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Native Plants

A grid of 16 square images showing native California plants and habitats, including a green woodland with a rare grass, a close-up of an iris flower with dew, a subalpine meadow with paintbrush flowers, a field of tidy tip flowers, a close-up of a pink Clarkia flower, a white orchid, a field of purple lupine, a close-up of a rare birds-beak plant, an umbel of flowers with sun shining through them, a rare beach Layia plant, a close-up of a seepspring monkeyflower, a pink hemiparisitic plant, a grassland near an oak woodland, cactus spines, a close-up of meadow rue flowers, and a close-up of a leopard lily flower

Why We Care About Native Plants

California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies, and varieties of plants that occur naturally in the state, and many of these are found nowhere else in the world. Some are adapted to unique habitats or harsh conditions, and some occur in such low numbers or have been so impacted by human influence that they are at risk of permanent extinction from the wild. California’s native plants should be conserved because of their beauty and intrinsic value, because they are essential components of ecosystems and natural processes, and because they provide us with valuable renewable materials and other benefits. CDFW administers programs to study, map, conserve and protect California’s native plants and natural communities.

California Laws Protecting Native Plants

Some native plants are protected by California law. Information on important California laws for native plant protection can be found from the links below.

Do I Need a Plant Permit?

The killing or possession of California rare, threatened or endangered plant species(opens in new tab) is prohibited by California law, however CDFW may issue permits authorizing the killing or possession of these species under certain circumstances, such as for scientific, educational or management purposes.

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Natural Communities

222 species, subspecies, and varieties of native plants are designated as rare, threatened, or endangered (PDF)(opens in new tab) by state law, and over 2,000 more plant taxa are considered to be of conservation concern. Many of these species are the target of conservation and mapping efforts by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and CDFW has created survey protocols (PDF)(opens in new tab) for rare, threatened, and endangered plant species and natural communities. CDFW also works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(opens in new tab) to administer federal Section 6 grants(opens in new tab) for plant research, and partners with botanic gardens for off-site conservation of plants. Species lists, status reports, and additional information on rare, threatened, and endangered plant species are available from the link below.

Contact

For more information on any of the topics above, please contact the Native Plant Program at nativeplants@wildlife.ca.gov.

Photograph of larged-flowered fiddleneck flowers, which have coiled groups of orange flowers with red dots on their fused petals - click to go to tax-donation page

Help California’s rare plants at tax time - Donate on Line 403 of Your Tax Form

Circular graphic image showing purple Joshua tree silhouettes with a sun in the background, with the words Western Joshua Tree Conservation in the middle, and the words - click to go to Western Joshua Tree Conservation page “grow clean energy, develop responsibly, protect biodiversity” around the outer circle.

Western Joshua Tree Conservation(opens in new tab)

Close-up photograph of a Monterey clover showing white petals with purple bases, and hairy stems and calyces.

Monterey clover (Trifolium trichocalyx) received a 5-year species review in 2023

Close-up photograph of Inyo rock daisy showing two mature flower heads with yellow flowers and yellow-green stems and bracts.

Inyo rock daisy (Laphamia inyoensis) was designated threatened in 2023

Habitat Conservation Planning Branch
1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090