NPS photo

Riparian forest of white alders along Redwood Creek

The central California coast is not known for its dense stands of forests. Hilltops are covered with grasslands and scrublands, but water bodies or sheltered depressions in the landscape have the resources to provide water and nutrients even to such giants as the Coast redwood. Otherwise, trees are usually focused along water bodies. The Alameda is a spanish term for "tree line," a sure way to find a creek for early explorers of the region. Riparian forests have shrubby tree species such as wax myrtle, coast dogwood, tanbark oak, hazelnut, toyon, elderberry, and arroyo willow. Larger species include the buckeye, white and red alder, and various live oak species.

The area's oak woodland savanna is comprised of small patches of coast live oaks with a sparse understory of shade-loving species. The areas's scrublands are covered with a wide variety of flowering shrubs including California sage brush, coyote brush, poison oak, Lizard tail, cream bush, osoberry, coffee berry, and twinberry. Chaparral regions showcase chemise, manzanita, yerba santa, and ceanothus. These shrubs are evergreen, and tend to have small leaves with thick cuticles to guard against desiccation. They also tend to be aromatic with volatile oils that evaporate in the heat, acting like a natural cooling system.