Flora & Fauna
A Home for Native Habitats
Mt. Helix Park is surrounded by developed neighborhoods, shopping centers, and a bustling civic center. However, the hilltop is home to a wide variety of established native habitats including century-old plants and wildlife that range from insects and reptiles to birds and mammals.
Explore the Park
Learn about the many species that inhabit the Park and why preserving it is a community effort.
Plants of the Park
Animals & Insects of the Park
Coming soon.
Butterfly Friendly Plants
- California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) — attracts butterflies, bees, flies, moths
- Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) — attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Chaparral Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus) — attracts hummingbirds, bees, flies, beetles, butterflies
- Santa Barbara milk vetch (Astragalus trichopidus) — attracts butterflies, moths
- Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina) — attracts native bees, hummingbirds
- Scarlet Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis) — attracts bees, hummingbirds
- Orange sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus) — attracts bees, hummingbirds
- Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) — attracts bees, flies, beetles, butterflies
- Mountain blue penstemon (Penstemon laetus) — attracts bees, wasps
- California Peony (Paeonia californica) — attracts beetles
- Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) — attracts bees, hummingbirds
- Narrow leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) — attracts bees, beetles, flies, butterflies
