Ballona Wetlands
Coastal Sage Scrub

The coastal sage plant community is found around the perimeter of the Ballona Wetlands.  Not strictly a wetlands community, it is found in the uplands, especially on the bluffs, of the Play del Rey/Westchester area.

The members of this plant community tend to be medium-sized or small shrubs, with grayish-green leaves which are deciduous in the dry season.  Often these plants are aromatic with a sage-like or minty odor.

Not protected legally, the coastal sage assoiation has been decimated in southern California in recent years.  However, it supports several rare species of animals (e.e. California gnatcatcher, orange-throated whiptail) and is made up of a variety of unique plants.

While the coastal sage habitat of the Ballona region has been degraded and has an icomplete sampling of plants, it still retains the character of this community.

Some of the species occurring in the Ballona Westchester region are the following:

California sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
California encelia (Encelia californica)
Coastal cholla cactus (Opuntia prolifera)
Coastal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis)
Bush lupine (Lupinus excubitus)
Deerweed (Lotus dendroideus)
Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina)
Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis)
Common buckwheat (Erigonum fasciculatum)

Coastal sage description in s. Calif. Natural History Web pages.

Other plant communities in the Ballona Wetlands:
Subtidal Areas
Intertidal Mudflats
Coastal Salt Marsh
Coastal Strand
Riparian and Freshwater Marsh

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