Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) flower and fruit when water is plentiful. To gauge upcoming conditions, they form flowering shoots at the tips of spring growth that stay dormant until the next season—like a tiny “big toe” testing for moisture.

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Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) thrives in wetlands and riparian zones with rich, moist soils. It’s remarkably flood-tolerant—able to withstand water above its root crown for up to seven years.

#RiparianHabitat #FloodTolerant #CaliforniaPlants #Nature #Wildflowers

Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) is highly salt-tolerant, excreting excess salts onto its leaves and stems. It often forms dense stands, sometimes spreading clonally.

#Saltgrass #NativePlants #SaltTolerant #Wildlife #Nautre #CaliforniaPlants