Flora & Fauna

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.


Learn about the many species that inhabit the Park and why preserving it is a community effort.

Animals & Insects
of the Park
Mt Helix Park Carpenter Bee photo by Hun


Butterfly Friendly Plants
Botanical Name:
Common Name:
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Salvia Mellifera
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Astragalus trichopidus
Malosma laurina
Mimulus cardinalis
Diplacus aurantiacus
Rhus integrifolia
Penstemon laetus
Paeonia californica
Salvia clevelandii
Asclepias fascicularis
California Buckwheat
Black Sage
Chaparral Bush Mallow
Santa Barbara milk vetch
Laurel Sumac
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Orange sticky Mondkeyflower
Lemonade berry
Mountain blue penstemon
California Peony
Cleveland Sage
Narrow leaf milweed
butterflies, bees, flies, moths
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
hummingbirds, bees, flies, beetles, butterflies
butterflies, moths
native bees, hummingbirds
bees, hummingbirds
bees, hummingbirds
bees, flies, beetles, butterflies
bees, wasps
bees, hummingbirds
bees, beetles, flies, butterflies
Capture cover Selecting Plants for Polli