Native Plant Garden at Glen Echo Park


Why native plants?

Native plants are naturally adapted to grow in our area without fertilizers, pesticides or chemical weedkillers, all of which would be pollutants to the creek. They require less water than plants from other climates and provide food for birds, butterflies and other wild residents.

Most of the original vegetation of the East Bay plain has been lost to development or overrun by exotic species. The present design is a compromise between the recreational, urban uses of the park and the desire to restore a tiny bit of the area's lost natural legacy. For more on native plants and restoration gardening, see links below.

Plant list (partial)

These are listed by general growth habit and features of the leaves and flowers. Although all are native to California, not all would have originally been found in Oakland or along Glen Echo Creek. The varieties were selected for long bloom period and easy care. For native plant pictures, see links below.

Ground covers and plants less than 1 foot tall
Sand Strawberry Groundcover, spreads by runners White
Ceanothus Shrub groundcover, small leaves Blue
Farewell to Spring Annual wildflower Pink to Red, 4 petals
Beach Aster Perennial, low leaf rosettes Lavender daisies
Sea Thrift Perennial, grasslike clumps Pink small balls
California Fuchsia Perennial, shrubby Scarlet red, small trumpets
Blue-eyed Grass Grasslike, small Blue, 6 petals
Berkeley Sedge Grasslike, dense Tan, inconspicuous
Deergrass Grasslike Tall flower stalks

Medium plants and shrubs
  Manzanita Evergreen shrub, compact Pink, tiny
  Pink-Flowering Currant Deciduous shrub Pink, dangling racemes
  Oregon Grape Evergreen shrub Yellow
  Calfornia Poppy Annual-perennial Orange
  Alum Root Perennial, shade Pinkish, upright racemes
  Pacific Coast Iris Perennial, swordlike leaves Blue, purple, white
  Mugwort Perennial, tall, gray leaves Whitish spikes
  California Wild Rose Perennial Pink
  Cleveland Sage Evergreen shrub, grayish Blue
  Bush Monkeyflower Shrubby perennial Light orange
  Eriogonum arborescens Shrubby perennial Pinkish
  Evening Primrose Biennial Yellow
  Yarrow Groundcover; foliage fine textured, fragrant, creeping Pink to white, flat heads on upright stalks
  Snowberry Evergreen shrub, shade White berries

Tall shrubs and trees
  Fremontodendron "California Glory" Tall Shrub Yellow
  Coast Live Oak Evergreen tree Inconspicuous
  California Box Elder Deciduous tree, maplelike leaves Inconspicuous
  Buckeye Deciduous tree, drops its leaves in midsummer White, upright spikes
  Alder Deciduous tree, would prefer to be closer to creek Inconspicuous
  Coast Redwood (near Montell St) Conifer Inconspicuous

Seasons in the park

Alien invaders

Unfortunately, there are also unwelcome plants in the park. Common weeds are generally non-natives-they especially thrive in the disturbed conditions that accompany urbanization, with their natural enemies usually left behind on another continent. The worst offenders are listed below. Mug shots and criminal records of many of them can be viewed at the Weed Photo Gallery

  • Oxalis (Bermuda Buttercup, sourgrass)
  • Creeping woodsorrel (creeping oxalis)
  • Algerian Ivy
  • Wild Onion
  • Himalaya Blackberry
  • Annual Bluegrass
  • Spurge
  • Black Acacia (tree)

More about natives

  • Online booklet about native plant gardening from Friends of Sausal Creek
  • California Native Plant Society (East Bay Chapter) - field trips, plant sales, conservation activities
  • Friends of the Regional Parks Botanical Garden-- this floral sanctuary and resource center is also a "wild plant park" showcasing native plant communities from all over California.