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California Wetland Plants

California wetlands include swamps, marshes and bogs. Examples of California wetland vegetation are cattails, mangroves, sedges, bald cypress, willow trees and rushes. Many plants native to California wetlands are endangered or threatened. Some plants thrive in freshwater wetlands, while others do well in salty marshes and estuaries. Some species are rare or endangered, some are native only to California. Non-native plants are also found in California wetlands.

San Diego Thorn Mint
- Acanthomintha ilicifolia, or San Diego Thorn Mint, is an annual herb native to California. It is listed as Endangered by the State of California, and listed by the Federal Government as Threatened. Two major populations of San Diego thorn-mint are located on the Cleveland National Forest. One population is found at Viejas Mountain and the other is at Poser Mountain. In Baja California Norte, Mexico, nine locations are known to have supported San Diego thorn-mint, but it is unknown as of 2010 if the plant still exists there.
Bur Marigold
- The common name Bur Marigold refers to more than 200 species of Bidens. Common in California is Bidens laevis, a freshwater wetland dweller. This perennial herb blooms with yellow flowers. It is not considered threatened or endangered, and grows wild in many California counties. According to Drugs.com, Bur Marigold is commonly used in folk medicine and homeopathic remedies -- toxicology is not known as of 2010.
San Jacinto Valley Crownscale
- Atriplex coronata var. notatior, commonly known as San Jacinto Valley crownscale, is an annual herb that is only found in California wetlands. This endangered plant has only been documented in Kern and Riverside counties. BiologicalDiversity.org describes this plant as small and stubby, hosting a tangle of grey-green leaves. The plant has the ability to transfer salts from the soil to its surface glands, making it shine and glimmer in the sun.
Carolina Fanwort
- Carolina fanwort, or Cabomba caroliniana, is an example of a plant not native to California's wetlands that exists there now. This perennial herb is widespread in other areas of the U.S., and lives in many naturally occurring wetlands. Carolina fanwort is not listed as protected or endangered.
Livid Sedge
- Livid sedge is so rare, it is presumed to be extinct. Recorded observations of Livid sedge are listed by the California Native Plant Society in northern California counties such as Lassen and Mendocino counties.
Loco Weed
- Astragalus pycnostachyus, or Loco Weed is native to California wetlands and it is only found in the state of California. Also known as marsh milk vetch and marsh milkvetch, Loco Weed lives in salty, coastal marshes in both northern and southern California. It is not considered threatened or endangered, according to the California Native Plant Society.
Big Saltbrush
- The shrub known as Big Saltbrush, or Atriplex lentiformis, is a dicot. This shrub is native to California and is found in other areas of the Western U.S. Big Saltbrush is widely distributed in California. It is found in Alkali Sink habitats, valley grasslands, salt marshes on the coast and wetland riparian areas.

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