From fire comes life. Fire can have a remarkable power to reset natural systems, making them healthier and more resilient. Wildfires in 2020 were devastating, but as the ash enriches the soil with nutrients, certain plants-some long dormant-will burst forth in a dazzling display of life. These “fire followers” will be a sight to behold.<\/p>\n
Read on to learn about the ecosystems in the Santa Cruz mountains and the rare and special plants and flowers that are likely to flourish this spring.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonate Now\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit Parks\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t photo by James Maughn.<\/p>\n The Santa Cruz mountains are a rich and dynamic place with diverse habitats and landscapes rising from the shores to the ridges. We will explore three key plant communities – Santa Cruz Sandhills<\/a>, Chaparral<\/a>, and Redwood Forest<\/a> – and the special flowers, plants, and trees to look for as fire-scarred landscapes reset and rebound.<\/p>\n A habitat is a place where a living thing gets what it needs to thrive like water, food, and shelter. For plant life, habitat needs can include the right amount of sunlight, water, soil nutrients, temperature range, and other plants to cross-pollinate with. The Santa Cruz Mountains have diverse habitats transitioning from mountain peaks to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. These habitats host many types of wild plants<\/a> and creatures<\/a> just miles away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. This guide will focus on three of the most unique habitats we protect in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the plant communities that live within them within them: the Santa Cruz Sandhills, Chaparral, and of course Redwood Forests.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tRare and Special Plants<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to some rare and very special plants including endemic plants, meaning they don’t grow naturally anywhere else in the world. Some of these plants are known as fire followers because they have adapted to the natural wildfire pattern of California. Fire followers are plants that grow from the heat, smoke, or charred soil created by fire. Some native plants, like the endangered Ben Lomond wallflower<\/a>, rely on fire to decrease competition for habitat resources by removing invasive plants that cannot survive or regenerate with fire. In fact, there are even plants that cannot sprout without fire. The Santa Cruz cypress<\/a>‘s cones won’t fully open without the heat of fire to melt the resin sealing them.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tMaps for Viewing Safely<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t In partnership with AllTrails<\/a>, these maps feature destinations that provide a view, while encouraging you to enjoy and discover what you find from a distance, to protect habitats. Check out our curated hikes with great wildflower and rare plant viewing potential, Wildflowers After Wildfire: A Guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains<\/a> by Sempervirens Fund on AllTrails. While certainly not a comprehensive list, these hikes will help you experience the habitats and you may see some amazing flowers. The best times to find parking and experience fewer hikers at parks and preserves are on weekdays and late afternoons on weekends.<\/p>\n\n\t\tA Guide for Wildflowers After Wildfire\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tProduced with the California Native Plant Society\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\tWhat to Know Before You Go\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\tHabitats<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t