Half Moon Bay may be a destination for travelers because of its beautiful beaches and exquisite restaurants. Yet, some travelers come because of the rich, moist air and abundant plants and trees that thrive in this climate. Whether you take a leisurely walk along an ocean bluff or visit the wetlands, you are always surrounded by plants and flowers growing from every possible patch of earth. When you are ready, visit the local nurseries and be prepared to encounter the work of some of the top horticulturists in California, drawn to the area because of its mild climate and rich soil.
For many years I have been intrigued by the rich floral diversity of Half Moon Bay, but I often wanted to identify the species or common names of the plants accurately. Recently I discovered how to submit my floral photographs to apps like “PlantNet Plant Identification” and find the intricate details of the plant’s family, species, common name, and many other details.
All photos below were taken in Half Moon Bay from the ocean bluffs, plants decorating neighborhood gardens, or local outdoor nurseries. The identification of the plants came directly from “PlantNet Plant Identification.”
Please excuse my novice approach to this science; for now, I am thrilled to start this path of discovery.
The species was originally called Nasturtium indicum(“Indian nasturtium”) but the plant is not related to the true Nasturtium genus.
Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers that is native to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, and Mozambique; it is common as a houseplant worldwide. Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions.
Aeonium arboreum, the tree aeonium, tree houseleek, or Irish rose. A a succulent, subtropical subshrub in the flowering plant family Crassulaceae.
Verbena rigida, known as slender vervain or tuberous vervain, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the family Verbenaceae. It is native to Brazil and Argentina, and is not fully hardy in temperate climates, where consequently it is grown from seed as an annual.
Calibrachoa parviflora is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family known by the common name seaside petunia. It is native to much of southeastern South America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States, and it is present as an introduced species in other sections of the Americas, such as the southeastern United States, as well as in Australia, where it is an occasional weed in New South Wales. This herb produces slender, branching stems which creep along the ground and root at nodes. The upright branches are leafy, with fleshy, glandular, oblong or widely lance-shaped leaves.
Spathiphyllum wallisii, commonly known as peace lily, white sails, or spathe flower is a very popular indoor house plant of the family Araceae. The genus name means “spathe-leaf”, and the specific epithet is named after Gustav Wallis, the German plant collector.
Dimorphotheca sinuata, the glandular Cape marigold, Namaqualand daisy, or orange Namaqualand daisy; Dimorphotheca aurantiaca hort is a species of plants native to southern Africa. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in parts of the United States, primarily California and Arizona.