Three Plants Indigenous to California

Prior to joining the technology firm Aura Health as a senior data scientist, Brian Richmond served as the creator and head of people analytics for the New York City-based company WeWork. Outside of his professional achievements, Brian Richmond is a self-described nature lover and has a strong interest in California’s indigenous plants.

California contains some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. It is home to more varieties of plant species than any other state. Some of the state’s most unique indigenous plants include:

Desert agave - The agave is well-adapted to the dry desert climates of Southern California. It produces yellow, funnel-shaped flowers only once over its 20-year lifespan. The plant was an important source of food and fiber for local Native American tribes. 

Sliverpuff - A member of the aster family, silverpuffs originated in the American southwest and are found across California. The yellow and white blossoms transform into wispy seed heads during May and June. 

Giant Sequoia - These incredible trees are only found at a specific elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They can grow to more than 35 feet in diameter and up to 300 feet tall. With an average life span of 3,000 years, California’s giant sequoias are some of the oldest trees on Earth.