The California Box Thorn might appear scraggly and unremarkable, but it helps protect the bluffs of beautiful Sunset Cliffs from erosion.
Several of these plants are protected at the north end of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in Point Loma. A nearby sign explains how the California Box Thorn (Lycium californicum) is native to the coasts and islands of Southern California.
If the shrub looks dead, it probably isn’t. It’s simply dry. After a rain, the tiny leaves turn green and you might notice white bell-shaped flowers and red berries. Birds love the berries!
It’s summer. The protected plants that I photographed are green and obviously watered.
If you’d like to become one of the Friends of Sunset Cliffs, check out my final photograph of information in the nearby kiosk. You’ll see an email address.
And yes, Sunset Cliffs with its rugged sandstone bluffs is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in San Diego!
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I always thought the erosion of Sunset Cliffs was due to the waves hitting them from below. I later learned that, where waves can have an effect, a considerable of amount of erosion comes from water running over the tops of the cliffs. I read a study that said the configuration of the streets next to Sunset Cliffs Blvd – i.e. streets sloping down and consequently draining perpendicularly to the Blvd — accounts for large amounts of water that run over the cliffs and wash the top layer away. Native plants can help mediate that by capturing water in their roots. The study also mentioned that engineers had been looking at other ways to deter the erosion by installing French drains at the ends of those cross-streets and a adding a piping system to reroute the rainwater, which sounded pretty complicated and costly. Obviously, native plants are a quicker, easier and less costly first solution.
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Great information. Thanks!
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