San Diego Bay Nonnative Sea Lavender Mapping and Control Project

Algerian sea lavender (Limonium ramosissimum) and European sea lavender (Limonium duriusculum) are nonnative plants that invade salt marsh and upland transitional habitats in coastal California in addition to disturbed inland habitats.

Algerian sea lavender (Limonium ramosissimum) and European sea lavender (Limonium duriusculum) are invasive, nonnative perennial plants known to invade salt marsh and upland transitional habitats in coastal California in addition to disturbed inland habitats.  While striking in appearance, these two species cause angst among coastal land managers and biologists when detected in salt marsh habitat in San Diego, California.  These two species are difficult to eradicate and capable of invading and densely occupying tidal marsh habitat.  If left unmanaged these species can displace native vegetation causing loss of breeding and foraging habitat for the endangered Belding’s savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi) and extirpating local populations of the endangered salt marsh bird’s beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. maritimum).

In 2021, CBI received funding from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program and the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex to determine the distribution of Algerian and European sea lavender and initiate a control program to eliminate these species from San Diego Bay to prevent degradation of salt marsh habitat and potential loss of endangered animal and plant populations.  Project partners include the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Port of San Diego, United States Department of the Navy, and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuges.

In August, 2025 CBI was awarded a multi-year award (2025-2028) by the California Wildlife Conservation Board to survey, map, and enhance coastal habitat by controlling these two nonnative species in San Diego Bay in close partnership with multiple agencies and organizations. The management goal is to reduce the distribution of Limonium spp. by 99 percent across approximately 118 acres of mid- to high elevation sale marsh, salt marsh-upland ecotones, and adjacent upland and riparian habitat to benefit 15 rare plants and animals native to the San Diego Bay region.