---
title: "Flora & Fauna"
url: "https://www.mthelixpark.org/flora-fauna/"
post_type: "page"
date_published: "2026-07-31T01:25:09-07:00"
date_modified: "2026-07-31T01:59:09-07:00"
---

# Flora & Fauna

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

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

Selecting Plants for Pollinators (PDF)