Town Flora

Due to a variety of circumstances in Davis, both the town and campus feature a staggering array of plants, both native and exotic. Many years ago, Davis made national news when the media picked up the story that Davis' mayor had decided to plant fruit trees in all the empty lots and unbuilt areas to provide food for the homeless. Both UC Davis and the City of Davis recognize the many ways plants enrich our lives by supporting programs and concepts such as the Street Tree Program, Arboretum, planting dedications, and edible landscaping.

Some of the species below have been demonstrating characteristics of invasive species and could become pests in the natural environment (yes, Davis provides important habitat value for many native species); experts recommend using them carefully, or not at all.

A pretty Davis tree (at the corner of Pole Line and Covell) This beautiful little fan palm was found on campus

One of the most prodigious forms of Davis florae are the trees. They provide refuge for the wildlife and food for the people.

• Almond Trees (Prunus spp.)
  

• Aspen (Populus spp.)
  

• Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
  

• Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), an invasive.
  

• Cedars (includes Calocedrus, Cedrus, and Juniperus spp.)
  

• Cherry Blossoms (Prunus spp.)
  

• Chinese tallowtree (Sapium sebiferum), an invasive.
  

• Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens)
  

• Cycads ("Cycas" spp.)
  

• Zululand Cycad (Encephalartos ferox)
  

• Elderberry Shrubs (Sambucus spp.)
  

• Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa), an invasive.
  

• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), an invasive.
  

• European White Birch (Betula pendula)
  

• Evergreen Pear — also known as Cumbleberry Trees because of their foul-smelling flowers.
  

• Fruitless Mulberry (Morus rubra)
  

• Various Fruit Trees
  

• Ginkgo Trees (Ginkgo biloba)
  

• Golden Rain Tree (usually Koelruteria paniculata)
  

• Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
  

• Oaks (Quercus spp.)
  

• Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.)
  

• Palms (several genera)
  

• Pines (Pinus spp.)
  

• Sycamore (Platanus spp.)
  

• Tree of Heavan (Ailanthus altissima)—an invasive species.
  

• Walnuts (Juglans spp.)
  

• Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
  

Visit here for a google map of fruit trees in Davis. The map is public and collaborative, so please add trees if you know of their locations. (You must have a google sign-in.) Use push-pins to mark the locations of trees. If the tree is on private property, please indicate that in the note, and only mark it after getting permission from the owner first.

Once you start recognizing the flora on this page, you'll notice them all over town, like this California Lilac! The Train Station has some beautiful plantings.

• Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
  

• Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea)
  

• California Lilac (Ceanothus spp.) — also considered a small tree
  

• Cashmere Bouquet (Clerodendrum bungei)
  

• Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) — also considered a small tree
  

• Flowering Maple (Abutilon spp.)
  

• Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
  

• Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
  

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
  

• Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
  

• Orchid Rockrose (Cistus purpureus)
  

• Paraguay Nightshade (Lycianthes rantonnetii)
  

• Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
  

• Privet (Ligustrum spp.) — also considered a small tree, an invasive.
  

• Rose Mallow (Lavatera trimestris)
  

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)
  

• Sage (Salvia spp.)
  

• Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

• Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
  

• Grapes (Vitis spp.)

An early tea rose of spring!

Calla lilies are one of Davis' early arrivals each year. A red-lipped salvia brushes up against iris in this little corner. A nature-made bouquet.

• Aroids
  

• Caladium (Caladium)
  

• Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopiea), an invasive.
  

• Dragon Lily (Dracunculus vulgaris)
  

• Elephant's Ear aka Taro (Colocasia esculenta)
  

• Flamingo Flower (Anthurium scherzeranum)
  

• Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
  

• Tabatha the Titan (Titan arum)
  

• Bad Man's Plaything (Achillea spp.)
  

• Begonias (Begonia spp.)
  

• Bacopa (Sutera cordata)
  

• Bellflowers (Campanulaceae)
  

• California Golden Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
  

• Confederate Violet (Viola sororia)
  

• Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)
  

• Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)
  

• Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
  

• Four o'Clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
  

• Freesia (Freesia corymbosa/refracta/laxa)
  

• Geranium (Pelargonium sp)
  

• Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
  

• Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)
  

• Iris (Iris L.)
  

• Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber)
  

• Lantana (including L. camara, an invasive)
  

• Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
  

• Lupines (Lupinus spp.)
  

• Madwort (Lobularia maritima)
  

• Maiden's Wreath (Francoa sonchifolia)
  

• Marigolds (many native and exotic genera)
  

• Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
  

• Mints (Lamiaceae)
  

• Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
  

• Cashmere Bouquet (Clerodendrum bungei)
  

• Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
  

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)
  

• Sage (Salvia)
  

• Money Plant (Lunaria)
  

• Naked Lady (Amaryllis belladonna)
  

• Naples Onion (Allium neapolitanum)
  

• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
  

• Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale)
  

• Periwinkle (Vinca major)
  

• Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria pelegrina)
  

• Pig Squeak (Bergenia cordifolia)
  

• Primroses (Primulaceae)
  

• Roses (Rosa spp. and hybrids)
  

• Spring Flowers
  

• Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum)
  

• Succulents
  

• Aloe (Aloe L.)
  

• Century Plant (Agave L.)
  

• Fairy Crassula (Crassula multicava)
  

• Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
  

• Western Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
  

• Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.)

• Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
  

• Bamboo (many genera, especially Bambusa)
  

• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
  

• Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
  

• Oregano (Originium vulgare)
  

• Ferns
  

• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
  

• Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillis-veneris)
  

• Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Food, flower or weed... it's all a matter of perspective; a field of mustard in town.

• Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
  

• Devil's Claw (Proboscidea spp.)— Aggie column
  

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
  

• Filaree (Erodium moschatum)
  

• Gopher Weed (Euphorbia lathyris)
  

• Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense), an invasive.
  

• Mistletoe (Phoradendron macrophyllum)
  

• Mustard (Brassica alba), an invasive.
  

• Sticky Weed (Galium aparine)
  

• Thistle (several genera, including Carduus, Cirsium, and Silybum)
  

• Wild Oats (Avena fatua)
  

• Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.)
  

• Yellow Oxalis (Oxalis pes-caprae), an invasive.
  

• Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), an invasive.

Many plants have compounds in them that are skin irritants, or are harmful if ingested. Yet other plants cause allergies to some people. Below are some of the most notable chemically irritating plants found in Davis. Some are native, some are not. Mind you, lots of commonly eaten plants have toxic parts—many of the plants related to cherries have poisons in their pits. The list below is certainly not a complete one. If you think you are suffering from some kind of plant poisoning, contact Poison Control (1-800-876-4766). Also refer to this really helpful plant toxicity guide.

If you are a gardener that has a yard filled with interesting horticultural introductions, you might have a whole apothecary in your back yard. If you have children, you ought to cross-reference the names of the plants in your garden against a good list of toxic plants. The Western Garden book may provide that information.

• Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)—a beautiful horticultural tree, highly toxic.
  

• Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)—also called larkspur, highly toxic.
  

• English Ivy (Hedera helix, Hedera canariensis)—absolutely harmless to most, but some people can develop limb-bloating allergic reactions on contact.
  

• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)—a beautiful horticultural plant, highly toxic.
  

• Lupines (Lupinus spp.)—the seeds, which look like edible beans, are attractive to children.
  

• Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.)—do not eat this plant's seeds.
  

• Oleander (Nerium oleander)—all parts of the plant are toxic. Do not use its branches for roasting marshmallow!
  

• Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)—as bad as it sounds. Ingesting the sap of this very common weed can be deadly.
  

• Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)—depending upon the person, the active ingredient (urushiol), ranges in being harmless to dangerous. Once contracted, poison oak rashes must simply be sat out.
  

• Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)—an invasive species that is mildly toxic (but that smell! Who would eat it?), and can cause skin rashes.
  

• Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)—occasionally encountered as a roadside weed.
  

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)—mildly toxic, also it can cause skin rashes.

• Culinary Plants
  

• Mold
  

• Mushrooms

• Cherries
  

• Corn
  

• Plums/Prunes
  

• Rice Paddies
  

• Strawberries
  

• Sunflowers
  

• Tomatoes
  

• Vineyards
  

• Walnuts
  

• Almonds

Blossoms on a Blackwood Acacia (Acacia melanoxylon) in the Arboretum

• a list of local Nurseries
  

• a list of local Tree and Landscaping services
  

• UC Davis Arboretum — examples of many native plants are on display.
  

• Arboretum Terrace — on the east side of Davis Commons. A little gated public garden that features a variety of plants native to the Central Valley. The idea is to provide a model for sustainable, drought-tolerant landscaping in Davis.
  

• UC Davis Botanical Conservatory — just north of Hutchison Hall; home to Tabatha, the giant corpse flower. Greenhouses are open to the public, and many of the botanists on hand are glad to answer questions. (Website)
  

• Environmental Horticulture Club
  

• California Native Plant Society, Sac Valley Chapter
  

• Campus Tree Walk
  

• Garden of the Ladyes Shakespearean Rose Garden — in Voorhies Hall courtyard. There's a box with pamphlets that lead you, via Shakespeare trivia connected to each rose variety, around the garden.
  

• Plant Toxicity Guide
  

• California Invasive Plant Council

* Stylistic note: I'm listing specific tree/plant names in singular form and groups of trees/plants in plural. Agreed? -Eric

Comments:

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Ok, it has been quite awhile since I took 7th grade science, so I might be a bit fuzzy on this. Flora refers to plants. Mushrooms are not plants. They are fungus. Should they be on this page? -WilliamLewis

• Flora and fauna are the two original classifications. Flora refers to all non animal lifeforms, including bacteria (and mushrooms). Fauna refers just to animals. Check a dictionary or Pliny's bestiary for more. — jw
  

• To split hairs on lineages, fungi are more closely related to animals, than to plants. This is why treating fungal problems in ag and medicine is difficult; most anti-fungal treatments turn out to also be quite harmful to us. — MatthewTom
  

2008-09-05 08:29:13   I'm having trouble with the figure alignment on this page. Notice the unwanted white space. How is this handled? —BarryRice