How2Day: Native Plants in Tuolumne County, California

Yosemite Falls is one of the many natural attractions in Tuolumne County. Don Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images
Once a gold mining mecca in the mid 1800s, Tuolumne County, California is now a popular vacation destination containing popular visitor attractions like Yosemite National Park and the Emigrant Wilderness. The flora and fauna of Tuolumne County are vast, with 2,576 plants on record growing wild in this part of California.

Characterized by small white flowers, the common yarrow is as common in California as it sounds. Yarrow, Achillea millefolium (alternative names Common Yarrow, G image by Tamara Kulikova from Fotolia.com
The common yarrow grows wild not only Tuolumne County but throughout the United States during the spring. This plant has green foliage with small white flowers with large brown seeds. It is in the sunflower family and is a perennial herb with it's blooming period in early summer.

This flower can grow up to 3 feet in height. columbine image by Andrew Orlemann from Fotolia.com
The columbine is a perennial herb with a red flower and green foliage. It actively grows during the spring and summer. The columbine's lifespan is short but it's growth is rapid. When the columbine reaches full maturity, it's height can reach up to 4 feet. The columbine's colors come in a range of colors but most commonly come in a combination of reds, peaches and yellows.

fuschia image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
Characterized by red petals and formed into a funnel or trumpet-like shape, this flower is commonly found in the dry mountain terrain that dominates areas of Tuolumne County. It grows in areas of elevation up to 10,000 feet and it's peak growing season is from August to September. It has a thin stem and is known as a perennial herb.

The bleeding heart is grown in Tuolumne County and is a popular decorative flower. wet bleeding heart 02 image by Michael Cornelius from Fotolia.com
The bleeding heart is a popular flower often used for decoration, even in weddings. It grows primarily in moist woodland areas and thrives in shade. The bleeding heart is characterized by a long thin stem and a drooping pink or red blossom. It was first found in Asia but eventually made it's way to the west in 1740 where it has grown in popularity.

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