While many botanical enthusiasts seek out unusual exotic plants and beautiful cultivars for their gardens, there is also much to be said for California's native species. The Safari Park's Nativescapes Garden is a testament to that fact, with more than 1,500 individual plants representing 500 species, all of which historically call Southern California home.
The garden's 4 acres (1.6 hectares) show off Southern California's plant communities: chaparral, coastal sage scrub, cypress, desert transition, high desert, island, low desert, montane, palm oasis, and riparian. With names like Apache plume, California buckeye, and monkey flower, these intriguing but often overlooked plants show that there's considerable variety and splendor to California's native landscape. Once you've experienced these unique plants, you can help restore some of California's botanical heritage by including them in your own garden!
