Native Plants Transform Downtown Santa Barbara in New Pilot Project  

A unique collaboration between Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Friends of State Street (FSS), and the City of Santa Barbara has resulted in the first-ever native plant pilot project in downtown Santa Barbara. The 200 plants installed on the 1200 block of State Street support the Garden’s efforts to achieve 30% native plant cover in the places where we live, work, and play. And there’s no better place to increase the visibility of native plants than in the heart of the city. 

On a sunny December morning, 40 volunteers from the Garden, FSS, UC Master Gardeners, and the city came together to plant a mix of regionally appropriate, climate-friendly, water-wise species including Ceanothus ‘Valley Violet’, Coral Bells (Heuchera sp.), Monkey Flowers (Diplacus sp.), Ferns (Polystichum sp), Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana), and more.  

This collaboration began when the Garden approached Friends of State Street President/CEO, Sharon Rich, about exploring a native plant project on State Street. Sharon immediately supported the idea and engaged City staff, leading to a shared effort to design a single-block Native Plant Pilot to be cared for and monitored by partners and the community at large. Insights gained from the collaborative will help inform future activations with the City of Santa Barbara, as planning efforts, including the State Street Master Plan, evolve. 

“Data collection and community engagement is paramount to this pilot.  I love how it reflects the community’s pride in State Street,” said Sharon. 

As the pilot takes root, the Garden and its partners at FSS and the City will monitor the new plantings and address any issues related to irrigation, foot traffic, and input from nearby businesses. Improvements will be made as needed. At the same time, the partners will explore additional locations on City properties to continue building a connected network of native plant ecosystems. 

This effort proactively invites more regionally appropriate, beneficial flora into the urban zone, supporting the Ecological Framework for Santa Barbara, developed by the Community Environmental Council as a guidance document for the community as it works to address one of its most significant current challenges, the revitalization of the city’s downtown core. 

“Showcasing the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in the heart of the city is a win for State Street. Planting native species enhances the historic beauty and ecological health of State Street and represents an important step toward creating a more sustainable downtown,” said Tess Harris, State Street Master Planner for the City of Santa Barbara. “We’re proud to support this pilot project.” 

The Garden and its partners look forward to monitoring this project as it develops, and we’re excited for the possibility it holds. Next time you’re downtown, swing by the 1200 block of State Street to see the partnership in action, and don’t forget to scan the QR code on signage to let us know what you think! You can also provide input here.