A wide variety of native plants are here for you to enjoy and consider using in your garden. In the last ten years, we have planted approximately 160 species that are native to San Luis Obispo County. Trees, such as the western sycamore, white alder, coast live oak, and California bay may be seen on a stroll through the park. Colorful shrubs such as California lilac, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, toyon and purple sage are but a few examples. Herbaceous plants are numerous and bright in the spring and summer. Dune Indian paintbrush, striking blue sticky phacelia, coastal golden yarrow, fragrant pearly everlasting and the bright yellow wallflower are but samples of what can be found.

Trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are grouped, in our Walk Through Garden, to represent our five coastal habitats: dunes, riparian, coastal scrub, woodlands and chaparral. There are several other native plant gardens in the park. Surrounding the Nature Center at the Oceano campground and at the entrances to the campgrounds in Pismo State Beach are plantings of native species that are to be found growing naturally somewhere in San Luis Obispo County. These plantings are an ongoing effort to replace trees and shrubs that have succumbed to old age or disease. The non-native and extremely invasive ice plant is being removed; after which, native plant seeds sprout abundantly.

Walk Through Garden
Between the two sections of Oceano campground is a "walk through" garden area of easy paths that wind their way through more San Luis Obispo County native plants, many of which are identified with markers. At the entrance is a map displaying the garden with a list of the plants. (Lists are also available in the Nature Center, as well as books with plant photos and comments.) There are benches to rest and enjoy the blooms, butterflies, and birds, and from which to view a raft in the lagoon -- often host to basking turtles or a cormorant in its wing-drying pose.

Dunes Interpretive Garden
Adjacent to the Walk Through Garden is a Dune Interpretive Garden. It has been planted with only those pla nts found in the local Sate Park dunes. Many of these are labeled to help with identification. A walk along the lovely Grand Dune Trail in the park will give the nature lover a chance to see some of these plants in their native setting.

Chumash Interpretive Demonstration Garden
This garden contains about 50 plants that were used by our local native Americans. Over the 10,000 years of Chumash culture, uses of native plants were many and varied. They did not plant gardens but used what was available. The Chumash were hunters and gatherers. Various researchers have compiled lists that describe what they feel were the Chumash uses of these plants.