Los Angeles, Ca - Home and Garden

The LA County Natural History Museum recently concluded a comprehensive report on the plant and animal life found in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River. The bulk of the plants and wildlife exist in the area between the Flood Basin and Frogtown. The various natural sandy bottoms in this area have facilitated the return of life, as a significant number of trees, shrubs, and reeds get washed away during winter floods.

Way back in 1769, the plant life along the river was studied by intrepid explorer Juan Crespi during the Portola expedition. After coming to a location that was probably near Frogtown, he noted that his group had entered a very large valley, overgrown with cottonwoods and alders, among which ran a body of water from the north-northwest, in reference to the Los Angeles River.

Members of the California Native Plant Society have been replanting many native plants in the river basin. A portion devoted to flowers that attract hummingbirds has also been placed in the area.

The following list contains some of the native plants that might be encountered along the river:

The sycamore tree, Platanus racemosa, actually had a role in the founding of Los Angeles. An important Gabrielino Indian village was located in the vicinity of a very large sycamore, which was known as the council tree. The Spanish camp that later became the site of Los Angeles was situated near the Indian village. The camp was destroyed in the Great Flood of 1815, but the sycamore survived. It later died in 1892 and was cut down. An examination ascertained that it was about 400 years old.

The cottonwood tree was very widespread along rivers in early California. As industrialization has reduced water levels, these riparian trees have vanished from many riverbanks. Early explorers utilized the cottonwood?s riparian nature to help them in finding water.

Willow trees are another widespread riparian tree native to the region. The willow leaves were utilized by California Indian tribes for medicine, while the small branches were used for basket making and the larger branches for wood.

The pollen of the cattail, Typha domingensis, was used by tribes for foodstuffs, while the roots were treated to make a form of medicine, and the stalks were good for bedding and building material.

Jimson Weed was utilized by California Indians as a ritual drug. The weed can be deadly if ingested for both humans and animals.