Section
Plants
California's remarkable plant life: giant sequoias, ancient bristlecone pines, Joshua trees, native oaks, kelp, wildflowers, and the botanical wonders of one of the world's most biodiverse regions.
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Inside The Huntington’s Extraordinary Succulent Garden
At The Huntington, one of the world’s great succulent collections reveals how plants from some of Earth’s harshest climates evolved to survive, even as many species face threats from plant theft.
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The Valley That Feeds a Nation
When it comes to a geological feature that has quietly shaped daily life in California more than almost any other, we should consider the Central Valley, arguably the state’s most important geological masterpiece.
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Ancient and Poisonous Cycads Are the Prehistoric Plants of Southern California
These living fossils predate dinosaurs and bear some of the largest seed cones on Earth — yet most Californians walk past them in gardens without ever recognizing what they’re seeing.
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Laurel Sumac, the Resilient Beauty of Southern California's Chaparral
Laurel sumac is one of Southern California's most resilient native shrubs — a chaparral cornerstone that shelters wildlife, survives fire, and thrives where other plants struggle.
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The Happy Nut: California’s Rise to Pistachio Power
California now grows more pistachios than any place on Earth, generating nearly $3 billion in economic value in the state. Nearly every nut sold in the United States, and most shipped abroad, comes from orchards in the Central Valley.
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Ten Essential Books About California’s Nature, Science, and Sense of Place
I’m an avid reader, and over the past decade I’ve dedicated a large section of my bookshelf to books about California—its wild side, its nature, and its scientific wonders.
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Manzanitas are California's Sculptured Survivors
With twisting, terra-cotta limbs and bark polished smooth by the sun, manzanita doesn’t just grow in California’s chaparral, it sculpts itself into the landscape.
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California’s Wild Laboratory and The Evolutionary Wonders of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands of California, an enchanting archipelago, offer a fascinating natural laboratory for the study of island biogeography. This field of biology, which explores the distribution of species and ecosystems in island environments, finds a perfect case study in these islands.
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Creosote Bushes Are the Mojave Desert’s Time Travelers
In the Mojave Desert, one creosote plant known as “King Clone” is estimated to be over 12,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living clonal organisms on Earth.
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How a Tiny Beetle Helped Save California
California’s citrus industry confronted a deadly challenge, leading to a groundbreaking innovation in pest control. Cottony Cushion Scale (Public Domain) Click to We’d…
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The Desert Garden at The Huntington is a Sanctuary for Succulents and a Battleground Against Poaching
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, is one of the institutions on the front lines of this battle against plant theft.
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The Mighty Oaks of California Are a Keystone of the Golden State’s Ecosystem
California's native oak trees support more wildlife than almost any other plant in the state. Here's why oaks are the unsung keystones of the Golden State's ecosystem.
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Giants Fallen: The Destruction of Converse Basin Grove and its Giant Sequoias
The true tragic story of one of the worst environmental crimes in California history.
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The Mystical Sentinels of the Mojave: Unraveling the Secrets of the Joshua Tree
Standing tall against the backdrop of the sun-scorched Mojave Desert, the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) is an emblematic figure of resilience and beauty. With its twisted, bristled limbs reaching towards the sky, this iconic species is not just a tree but a symbol of the untamed wilderness that is California’s desert landscape.
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The Eucalyptus Tree’s Twisted Path to Californian Soil
The California landscape is dotted with numerous plant species, many of them native , but few have a story as…
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The Sweet Journey of the Boysenberry from Family Farms to Theme Park Fame
Bowl of boysenberries on wooden table. California has long been a hub for berry innovation, boasting a rich history of developing countless berry…
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How Citrus Transformed California
The citrus boom in California reached its zenith in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was during this period that the citrus industry became a pivotal part of the state’s economy and helped shape its cultural identity.
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The Long Life and Accidental Death of the Prometheus Bristlecone Pine
Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, one of these seemingly invincible trees—known as Prometheus—fell not to the ravages of nature, but to the hand of man.
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The Ancient Cycads: A Living Fossil Collection at Descanso Gardens
Cycads are cool to look at and examine closely, and it turns out that one of the best places in the United States to see actual living cycads in Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. But how’d they get there?
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Why are California’s redwoods and sequoias so big and tall?
California’s coast redwoods and giant sequoias are the tallest and most massive trees on Earth. Here’s the science behind why they grow so enormous — and why they only grow here.
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The Majesty and Mystery of California’s Bristlecone Pines
Bristlecones are the longest living organism on earth. Gnarled and oftentimes squat, especially when compared to the majestic coastal redwoods and giant sequoias living near the coast further west, they hardly seem like mythical beings. But to scientists, they are a trove of information, offering clues to near immortality and to the many ways that the earth’s climate has changed over the last 5,000 years.
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Ancient Bristlecone Pines by Drone
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in California's White Mountains is home to the oldest living trees on Earth — some over 5,000 years old. Here's what a drone reveals from above.
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The genius of Luther Burbank, father of the most famous potato in the world
Luther Burbank created some of the most successful fruits and vegetables in the world, all from his California farm.