Plant photos

The Kelp Forest offshore of La Jolla, California. A kelp forest. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 30986  

California poppies cover the hillsides in bright orange.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Del Dios, San Diego, California
Image ID: 35162  

California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 35190  

California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 35191  

Spring Wildflowers Bloom in an Colorful Bouquet in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Dune evening primrose (white) is mixed with sand verbena (purple) near Henderson Canyon Road, Spring 2024. Sunrise light barely illuminating the flowers.
Species: Dune evening primrose, Sand verbena, Oenothera deltoides, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 40271  

Spring Wildflowers Bloom in an Colorful Bouquet in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Dune evening primrose (white) is mixed with sand verbena (purple) and desert sunflower (yellow) near Henderson Canyon Road, Spring 2024.
Species: Dune evening primrose, Desert Sunflower, Oenothera deltoides, Geraea canescens
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 40294  

Milky Way over Ancient Bristlecone Pine Trees, Inyo National Forest.
Species: Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California
Image ID: 29319  

Desert Lily Hersperocallis undulata, Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Desert lily, Hesperocallis undulata
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35194  

Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Desert Sunflower, Geraea canescens
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35196  

California Poppies in Bloom, Elsinore.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Elsinore, California
Image ID: 35230  

Desert Lily Blooming in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. While the Desert Lily is typically an uncommon or rare flower, in Spring 2024 it was present in enormous numbers. 2024 was the Year of the Desert Lily.
Species: Desert Lily, Hesperocallis undulata
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 40293  

Milky Way over Ancient Bristlecone Pine Trees, Inyo National Forest.
Species: Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California
Image ID: 29325  

California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 35186  

California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 35187  

California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad.
Species: California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 35188  

Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Desert Sunflower, Geraea canescens
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35195  

Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Desert Sunflower, Geraea canescens
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35197  

Cardon cactus, near La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Known as the elephant cactus or Mexican giant cactus, cardon is largest cactus in the world and is endemic to the deserts of the Baja California peninsula. Some specimens of cardon have been measured over 21m (70) high. These slow-growing plants live up to 300 years and can weigh 25 tons. Cardon is often mistaken for the superficially similar saguaro of Arizona and Sonora, but the saguaro does not occupy Baja California.
Species: Cardon cactus, Elephant cactus, Pachycereus pringlei
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 05498  

Stars and the Milky Way rise above ancient bristlecone pine trees, in the White Mountains at an elevation of 10,000' above sea level. These are some of the oldest trees in the world, reaching 4000 years in age.
Species: Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California
Image ID: 27775  

Ancient Bristlecone Pine tree, White Mountain Wilderness, Inyo National Forest.
Species: Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California
Image ID: 29314  

Oak Alley Plantation and its famous shaded tunnel of 300-year-old southern live oak trees (Quercus virginiana). The plantation is now designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Species: Southern live oak, Quercus virginiana
Location: Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana
Image ID: 31009  

Drift kelp, a kelp paddy, floating patch of kelp on the open ocean which attracts marine life and forms of moving oasis of life, an open ocean habitat, aerial photo.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: California
Image ID: 29083  

A hiker admires an ancient bristlecone pine tree, on the Methuselah Walk in the Schulman Grove in the White Mountains at an elevation of 9500 above sea level. The oldest bristlecone pines in the world are found in the Schulman Grove, some of them over 4700 years old. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
Species: Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva
Location: White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California
Image ID: 23232  

Aspen trees display Eastern Sierra fall colors, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon.
Species: Aspen, Populus tremuloides
Location: Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California
Image ID: 17497  

California bat ray in kelp forest.
Species: California bat ray, Macrocystis pyrifera, Myliobatis californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00267  

Garibaldi in kelp forest.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01055  

Blue shark and offshore drift kelp paddy, open ocean.
Species: Blue shark, Macrocystis pyrifera, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01077  

Blue shark and offshore drift kelp.
Species: Blue shark, Macrocystis pyrifera, Prionace glauca
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 01082