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Coastal sage scrub, also known ascoastal scrub,CSS, orsoft chaparral, is a lowscrublandplant community of theCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral subecoregion, found in coastalCalifornia and northwestern coastalBaja California. It is within theCalifornia chaparral and woodlandsecoregion, of theMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrubbiome.
Coastal sage scrub is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-aridMediterranean climate of the coastal lowlands. The community is sometimes called "softchaparral" due to the predominance of soft, drought-deciduous leaves in contrast to the hard, waxy-cuticled leaves on sclerophyllous plants of California's chaparral communities.
Characteristic shrubs and subshrubs include:
Larger shrubs include:
Herbaceous plants,grasses, and in some locales,cacti andsucculents, are also part of the flora.Hesperoyucca whipplei, colloquially known as Chaparral Yucca, is commonplace throughout the climate zone.
The coastal sage scrub plant community is divided into three geographical subtypes—northern coastal scrub,southern coastal scrub, andmaritime succulent scrub.
The coastal scrub communities are divided into three regions:
TheNorthern Coastal Scrub consists ofprairie, which is terraces with deepalluvial soils, and scrub, which is found on steeper slopes and ravine areas. Evergreen shrubs and subshrubs, which are soft leaves. They are found in semi-open with a height of 2–3 meters, with multiple layers. Some examples of the plant species that can be found are Bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Coffee berry (Frangula californica), Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum).
California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) can be found inCoastal Sage Scrub community, especially inOrange County. Some other plant species that can be found is also giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea), Californian black sage (Salvia mellifera), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and Californian white sage (Salvia apiana).
Plant species that can be found inMaritime Succulent Scrub is coast prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis), coast barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens), cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera), bush rue (Cneoridium dumosum), andDudleya spp.
Northern coastal scrub occurs along thePacific Coast from the northernSan Francisco Bay Area to southernOregon. It frequently forms a landscape mosaic with theCalifornia coastal prairie plant community.
The predominant plants are lowevergreenshrubs andherbs. Characteristic shrubs includecoyote brush (Baccharis pilularis),yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum),coast silk-tassel (Garrya elliptica),salal (Gaultheria shallon), andyellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus). Herbaceous species includewestern blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum),Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana), andgrasses.
Southern coastal scrub is mostly found along the maritimeCentral Coast region, and the terraces and mountains with coastal climate influence inSouthern California. Its distribution extends from the southwestern San Francisco Bay Area in the north, throughBig Sur,Vandenberg Air Force Base, theOxnard Plain, theLos Angeles Basin, most ofOrange County, parts ofRiverside County, coastalSan Diego County, and the northwestern region of Baja California state in Mexico, including the areas aroundTijuana andEnsenada.
The metropolitan areas ofLos Angeles,San Diego, andTijuana are located in the southern coastal scrublands, and most of the scrublands have been lost tourbanization andagriculture. The plants of this community prefer the mild maritime climates found along Southern California's coastline.World Wildlife Fund estimates that only 15 percent of the coastal sage scrublands remain undeveloped. Some of the remaining southern coastal scrub in Los Angeles County can be found in dunes under the takeoff path atLos Angeles International Airport—LAX, in the coastalSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and atthe Robert J. Bernard Field Station at theClaremont Colleges. In San Diego County, theCamp Pendleton Marine Corps Base protects larger areas, and theMarine Corps Air Station Miramar hasvernal pools and the endemic mintPogogyne abramsii. One of the largest remaining areas of inland coastal sage scrub is found in theTemescal Mountains of Riverside County.
A fewrare andendangered species occur in southern coastal scrub habitats. For example, thecoastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) is a threatenedbird speciesendemic to the coastal sage scrublands. Other endemic fauna includes theEl Segundo blue butterfly in the LAX dunes; and thePalos Verdes blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis), at only one site on thePalos Verdes Peninsula.
The endangeredTorrey pine (Pinus torreyana) is the dominant tree atTorrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego, one of only two known stands of thispine species.[1]