Plant Identification for Central California, Southern California, and/or North San Francisco Bay Area
Course Overview
These courses have two main objectives:
- To help participants identify key wetland plant species in and around the California region where each session takes place.
- To teach the fundamentals of plant keying, a valuable skill that can be applied anywhere.
Across the three course locations, participants will become familiar with many common plant species found in or near California wetlands. You can register for a single course or receive a discount when signing up for two or more sessions.
Course Structure
Classroom Sessions
Participants will be introduced to the Families, Genera, and Species commonly found in the selected region. Instruction will also cover the use of web-based resources and floral keys for plant identification. Since keying plants requires an understanding of plant anatomy and specialized terminology, these topics will be a major focus of the classroom portion.
Field Sessions
Hands-on learning will take place in various wetland habitats, including vernal pools, seasonal and perennial freshwater marshes, and riparian areas. Additional habitats covered in each region include:
- San Diego – Salt marsh, sage scrub, and chaparral
- Folsom & Santa Rosa – Valley/foothill and coastal (Santa Rosa), grassland, and woodland
This course is highly relevant for wetland delineations, the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM), and other species-based field studies.
Each participant will receive California Plant Families West of the Sierran Crest and Deserts, along with other course materials. Additionally:
- San Diego participants will receive Wildflowers of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains and Environs.
- Folsom & Santa Rosa participants will receive Plants of Northern California: A Field Guide to Plants West of the Sierra Nevada.
Resources: Field Packing List | Sample Field Practicum Agenda (Southern CA) | Sample Field Practicum Agenda (San Francisco Bay Area)
Single Region Tuition Cost: $1,275.00
Course tuition when you take two course locations: $1,600
Course tuition when you take all three course locations: $2,400
24 contact hours
Bottiani, Sward, Stringer
Your Course Includes
Plant Identification Reference Books
Participants will receive a copy of California Plant Families West of the Sierran Crest and Deserts, and other supplemental information.
Instructor interaction
WTI instructors are available to answer specific questions during and after your course.
Frequently asked Questions
Where is the specific location or venue for the course?
We finalize specific logistics once a course has reached minimum enrollment and is officially “confirmed.” Once confirmed, all registered participants will be notified of specific details so travel and other arrangements can be made as needed.
Does this course have any certificates?
You will receive a certificate of completion with instructional contact hours documented once you have completed all course requirements (i.e. online lectures, field practicum, discussion forum participation).
Register Now by Course Location
Dates and Location for Plant Identification in California:
| Dates | Locations | Register by Location |
| April 9 – 11, 2025 | Folsom, CA | CANCELLED |
| May 7 – 9, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | COMPLETED |
| May 14 – 16, 2025 | San Diego, CA | COMPLETED |