Non-native Wildflowers

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Prior to European contact, plant communities in the Presidio landscape consisted of species that had grown here for millennia. By introducing non-native grasses, vines and trees, and cutting the few native trees that grew here, early settlers and explorers drastically altered the landscape. While some of these exotic plants do not appear to threaten native species or ecosystems, many are invasive. A combination of factors allow these species to spread quickly from their original point of introduction and to disrupt or displace native plant species. These factors may include lack of population control by indigenous diseases and herbivores, shorter reproductive cycles, and larger numbers of seeds. Restoring native plant communities by removing exotic species and transplanting seedlings grown from nearby sites restores crucial wildlife habitat and plays an important role in the overall health and quality of the environment.

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