Native plants are plant species that existed in West Sacramento before people of European descent first visited the area. Native plants have had many more centuries to adapt to the conditions of our local climate, soils, and ecosystems than non-native plants have had, so they are more likely to survive without the help of a gardener than non-native plants are. Our local wildlife have had many more centuries to adapt to them as well, so these plant species are more likely to be edible to wildlife. This ecosystem balance helps keep native plants within reasonable limits, so they are less likely to spread out of control and kill every other plant in sight like invasive weeds do.

In West Sacramento, the original native plant communities were central oak woodland (also called foothill woodland), valley grassland, and riparian. The riparian plant community is still fairly intact and occurs only in direct proximity to (usually within sight of) the Sacramento River or another perennial water source. The valley grassland plant community has been mostly destroyed but historically occurred in areas where soil conditions made it difficult for any trees to grow. Despite the name "grassland," valley grassland was not necessarily dominated by grasses; wildflowers were a major component of these treeless landscapes. Meanwhile, the central oak woodland plant community has been largely destroyed in West Sacramento but is easily seen in many foothills regions; it is dominated by native oak trees. Contrary to the now-common sight of native oak trees underlain with the pale brown grasses of California's "golden hills," this plant community's native understory historically contained more shrubs, wildflowers, and perennial grasses that remained green all summer long. The "golden hills" today are golden-looking due to invasive non-native annual grasses that go to seed and die as soon as the spring rains stop. The native perennial grasses that once dominated those hills would have simply faded to a duller shade of green during the dry season.

Native Plant List

The following native plants have been documented within the city limits of West Sacramento, according to the records on CalFlora, and/or are believed to have historically grown in West Sacramento, according to the range maps on CalScape. Wetlands statuses have been added from the USDA Plants website or occasionally from CalFlora.

Native Trees and Large Shrubs

Native Smaller Shrubs

Native Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, and Bulrushes

Native Perennial Herbs

Native Annual Herbs

Native Ferns