It’s often said that Southern California doesn’t have seasons—Los Angeles especially falls prey to that misconception through marketing strategies that paint the city as a year-round paradisiacal destination with palm trees and sunny skies.
However, consistent visits to natural spaces in and around Los Angeles will reveal Southern California’s seasons through the changes in native plants.
Take the Western Sycamore tree, for example. Throughout the summer, the broad, fuzzy leaves of this native tree provide shade in parks, along streets, and even in the Los Angeles River. As temperatures start to drop in the fall, so do the leaves, creating plenty of opportunities to find a satisfying 'crunch' under your feet while walking the city. In the winter, Western Sycamore trees stand bare to conserve energy before leafing out again in the spring.
This winter dormancy pattern can also be found in other trees like the California Buckeye and the Western Redbud—the latter being especially interesting, as the leafing-out process is preceded by beautiful reddish-pink flower buds on its branches.
On the other hand, although fall and winter bring colder temperatures and less daylight, it also brings the rainy season in our Mediterranean climate. The stark contrast between summer browns and winter greens in Southern California landscapes is a striking example of our local seasonality. As moisture returns, many California native plants come to the fore after a summer dormancy period; new seeds begin to germinate, and a seasonal succession of blooms begin.
If you don’t yet have a favorite natural space to observe the changes in native landscapes of Los Angeles, the Center’s courtyard and Children’s Woodland areas are great places to start. A handful of visits to the Center throughout one year will provide you with countless observable changes each time you return.
Right now, among the fallen Western Sycamore leaves, our California Fuchsia blooms are still going strong into the cooler months. They’ll be followed by the early-blooming California Lilac with its blue and white flower clusters in late winter. In the spring, our White, Purple, Black, and Hummingbird Sages will begin putting on a show. And finally, the golden trumpets of Sticky Monkeyflower bring the show through the summer into the fall again.
Outside of the Center, these changes can also be noticed on your daily walks, while driving to work, or each morning when you let the family dog outside. Get to know the plants around you—their leaves, flowers, fruits, and nuts—and they’ll be sure to satisfy your craving for a seasonal feel in Los Angeles.
Check out Audubon’s Native Plant Database to learn how native plants support birds.
