VgValley Grassland

Low elevation grasslands, extending from the Sierra Nevada foothills in the east to the eastern Coastal Range, historically characterized by sweeping bunch grass meadows and annuals punctuated with mature tree specimens.  Short spring growing seasons produce a flurry of rapid growth and flowering, painting swaths of annual color to the horizon, and are then followed by an extended dry period with little growth.  Due to development, agriculture, and grazing, only a very small percentage of pure valley grassland exists.

Common Plants of the Valley Grassland
Dominant & Associated Trees	Dominant Shrubs, Perennials, Grasses & Annuals
Acer negudo, Box Elder	Achillea millefolium, Yarrow
Aesculus californica, California Buckeye	Carex praegricilis. Clustered Field Sedge
Alnus rhombifolia, White Alder	Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy
Populus fremontii, Fremont Cottonwood	Gilia capitata, Globe Gilia
Quercus lobata, Valley Oak	Layia platyglossa, Tidy Tips
Quercus douglasii, Blue Oak	Lupinus species, Lupine
Quercus wislizeni, Interior Live Oak	Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer Grass
Umbellularia californica, California Bay	Nasella pulchra, Purple Needle Grass
	Ribes aureum, Golden Currant
	Salvia species, Sage
	Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow
	Sambucus mexicana, Western Elderberry
Note: The above lists note some species found in valley grassland communities locatated throughout the state. A combination of these plants, not necessarily all, will constitute the dominant plant material in this specific plant community. This information is intended to be a primer on the plant communites in California.  View this article for information on references and further reading.    Designates plant occurs in Riparian area.

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