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DOUGLAS-FIR FOREST

These majestic trees often occupy similar habitats as coast redwoods, but thrive where soil conditions do not favor redwood growth. In many parts of the Bay Area, Douglas-fir is the “default” evergreen, easily told by its distinctive cones, which have protruding, three-pointed bracts, sometimes called rats’ tails. Like redwood, Douglas-fir is prized for its lumber. Some of the common plants associated with Douglas-fir are the same as those associated with coast redwood, namely California bay, tanbark oak, and western sword fern. Others include blue blossom, coffeeberry, and poison oak. Point Reyes National Seashore, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, and El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve have beautiful Douglas-fir forests.

Coast redwoods grow in association wtih other trees and shrubs, creating a plant community.

MIXED EVERGREEN FOREST

A mixture of evergreen trees, including California bay, canyon oak, coast live oak, and madrone, comprises this community. The understory often contains shrubs such as toyon, blue elderberry, hazelnut, buckbrush, snowberry, thimbleberry, oceanspray, and poison oak. Carpeting the forest floor may be an assortment of wildflowers, including milk maids, fairy bells, mission bells, hound’s tongue, and western heart’s-ease. Take a stroll through a mixed evergreen forest at China Camp State Park, Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, and Edgewood Park and Preserve.