Deep in the Transverse Ranges—in the heart of the Ventura County backcountry—stands a massive ridge known as Pine Mountain. At 5,000 to 7,500 feet in elevation, the area is home to unique ecosystems that are comprised of a remarkable diversity of plants. Because of its transitions from chaparral to pinyon-juniper to mixed-conifer forest, you can find over 400 native plant species on Pine Mountain.
Check out the slideshow below to see some of the beautiful botanical diversity the area has to offer. All photos were taken on Pine Mountain by our conservation director Bryant Baker.
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) with Cones
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) Flowers
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) in the Snow
Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis) Blooming
Jeffrey Pines (Pinus jeffreyi)
California Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica)
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) Chaparral
Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) Flowers
California Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica)
Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea)
Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) in the Snow
Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius)
Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea)
Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis) Blooming
Sugar Pines (Pinus lambertiana)
California Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica)
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) Flowers
Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus)
Thickleaf Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium) in the Snow
Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) Flowers
Bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa) in the Snow
Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis) Blooming
Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
White Firs (Abies concolor)
Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) and California Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica)
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) in the Snow
Larkspur (Delphinium sp.) Flowers
Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium sp.) on Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) Flowers
Large-flowered Collomia (Collomia grandiflora)
Jeffrey Pines (Pinus jeffreyi)
Variable Linanthus (Leptosiphon parviflorus)
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.)
Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.)
Morning Glory (Calystegia sp.)
Wallflower (Erysium capitatum)
California Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica)
Diamond Clarkia (Clarkia rhomboidea)
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos sp.)
Variable Linanthus (Leptosiphon parviflorus)
Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) Blooms
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) in the Snow
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) Flowers
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) Fruits
Coffeeberry (Frangula sp.) Fruits
Wax Currant (Ribes cereum) Fruits
American Lady on Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) with Cones
Plain Mariposa Lily (Calochortus invenustus)
Davidson's Phacelia (Phacelia davidsonii)
Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) Cone
Pussypaws (Calyptridium sp.)
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) with Cones
Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
Wallflower (Erysium capitatum)
Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) Flowers
Plain Mariposa Lily (Calochortus invenustus)
Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) Blooms
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) Flowers
Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) with Mushroom Galls
Coffeeberry (Frangula sp.) Fruits
Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium sp.) on Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) Cone
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.) in the Snow
White Fir (Abies concolor) with Lichens
