8 Must See Plants in Running Springs
Are you feeling a bit cooped up these days? In between the scheduled Zoom calls, and the never-ending to-do lists, your home may start to feel like it is shrinking in size. For our friends both near and far, we would like to offer you a much-needed break to Running Springs, Arrowbear, and Green Valley Lake.
At nearly 680,000 acres, the San Bernardino National Forest is the habitat for a huge variety of plant species. We have highlighted 8 of our favorites for your enjoyment! Grab a cup of tea or coffee and come “take a walk” with us.
The California Wild Rose is a deciduous (sheds its leaves annually) native rose species that grows from the coast and foothills of California, all the way up to the mountains. It flowers from May-November, and once fully mature, the rose hips can be pruned to be eaten raw, or dried to make into a delicious tea!
This Southern California native poppy can grow to be 6.5 feet tall, and the flower itself can grow as large as an adult’s head! You can find these poppies at Heaps Peak Arboretum.
Address: 29358 Rim of the World Hwy #18, Skyforest, CA 92385
The California Fuchsia is a perennial species of willowherb, and native to the California foothills. It is recognized not only for its vibrant fuchsia color, but also for being fire resistant, and is often referred to as the “Hummingbird Flower”. CalScape says, “There’s probably no better California native plant for attracting hummingbirds.”
Do you have a craving for grape soda? You can scratch that itch simply by standing in a field of these incredible smelling flowers. In Spring/Summer, behind the Running Springs Farmers Market and Artisan Faire, a wild bunch can be found in a field. Breathe in deeply, and it will smell exactly like grape soda. Please make sure to be careful and not trample these beauties, so that other visitors can continue to enjoy them!
While the Mariposa Lily can come in a variety of colors, this is the most-commonly found presentation found in the San Bernardino National Forest. It is native to the mountain ranges of California, and extremely drought tolerant.
Found in the mountain ranges of Southern California, these beautiful plants attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and are deer resistant! This means that when this plant is flowering, the deer are less likely to “mow” your garden for you.
Black Oak Trees are often referred to as “Kellogg Oak”, and typically grow to be 30-80 feet tall! If you take a hike on the Exploration Trail in early spring, you can see the bare branches beginning to grow their beautiful leaves, and find acorn seeds on the ground.
This California native plant was used by miners during the gold rush to prevent scurvy! Filled with Vitamin C, their mature leaves are edible and great in salads! As winter transitions into spring, the melting snow gives the soil the right dampness that the Miner’s lettuce prefers.
