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11 Distinct California Ecosystems

A Biodiversity Hot spot

The California Floristic Province

Dedicated to the plants of California, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Living Collection features wild plants from across California and the California Floristic Province (CFP). Stretching from southern Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, the CFP is one of the world’s six biodiversity hot spots characterized by a Mediterranean-type climate featuring cool, often wet winters and long, dry summers. With more than 900 taxa in the collection, the Garden displays only a fraction of the remarkable diversity of the California flora, yet there is so much to explore on our 78 acres (31 hectares). Click on a section below to learn more about how these unique plants support diverse ecosystems and contribute to a healthy planet.