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Plants of San Diego, California

The plants most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

218,369
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 218,369 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Buckwheat, with 13,132 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include Torrey Pine - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Torrey Pine

Most-observed plants near San Diego

California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
13,132 observations · iNaturalist
Lemonade Berry
Rhus integrifolia
10,834 observations · iNaturalist
California Brittlebush
Encelia californica
8,509 observations · iNaturalist
Laurel Sumac
Malosma laurina
7,156 observations · iNaturalist
Red Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus puniceus
6,637 observations · iNaturalist
Chilicothe
Marah macrocarpa
6,569 observations · iNaturalist
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
6,219 observations · iNaturalist
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
5,863 observations · iNaturalist
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
5,780 observations
Coastal Goldenbush
Isocoma menziesii
5,531 observations · iNaturalist
Garland Daisy
Glebionis coronaria
5,503 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
5,350 observations
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
5,330 observations · iNaturalist
Bladderpod
Cleomella arborea
5,141 observations · iNaturalist
Coast Cholla
Cylindropuntia prolifera
4,594 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
4,564 observations · iNaturalist
Tornleaf Goldeneye
Bahiopsis laciniata
4,286 observations · iNaturalist
San Diego Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus viridescens
4,194 observations · iNaturalist
Chalk Dudleya
Dudleya pulverulenta
4,130 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
4,091 observations · iNaturalist
Mission Manzanita
Xylococcus bicolor
4,004 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
3,887 observations · iNaturalist
White Sage
Salvia apiana
3,861 observations · iNaturalist
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
3,738 observations · iNaturalist
Fingertips
Dudleya edulis
3,650 observations · iNaturalist
Thick-leaved Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
3,643 observations · iNaturalist
Mojave Yucca
Yucca schidigera
3,395 observations · iNaturalist
Chaparral Yucca
Hesperoyucca whipplei
3,325 observations · iNaturalist
California Centaury
Zeltnera venusta
3,308 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey Pine
Pinus torreyana
3,248 observations
Alkali Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
3,233 observations · iNaturalist
Mule Fat
Baccharis salicifolia
3,228 observations · iNaturalist
Garden Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
3,135 observations · iNaturalist
Bermuda Buttercup
Oxalis pes-caprae
3,123 observations · iNaturalist
Santa Barbara Milkvetch
Astragalus trichopodus
3,108 observations · iNaturalist
Splendid Mariposa Lily
Calochortus splendens
3,052 observations · iNaturalist
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
3,039 observations · iNaturalist
Western Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
3,018 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
3,008 observations
Clustered Tarweed
Deinandra fasciculata
2,967 observations · iNaturalist
Wishbone Bush
Mirabilis laevis
2,960 observations · iNaturalist
Telegraphweed
Heterotheca grandiflora
2,950 observations · iNaturalist
Tree Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
2,904 observations · iNaturalist
Shaw's Agave
Agave shawii
2,880 observations · iNaturalist
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
2,849 observations · iNaturalist
Crystalline Ice Plant
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
2,738 observations · iNaturalist
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
2,688 observations
Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia arvensis
2,686 observations · iNaturalist
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
2,670 observations
Weed's Mariposa Lily
Calochortus weedii
2,661 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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