Foremost as a goal for landscape design at The Sea Ranch should be the concept of integration. Proposed private lot planting plans should be a means of integrating structures to the land and its natural context as well as relating new buildings to existing ones. Functional aspects of design (screening, wind protection etc.) should be accomplished in such a way that they appear to be an extension of the surrounding natural landscape.

To achieve overall visual harmony holding to the concept of minimum visual impact, certain elements of positive, negative landscape design must be considered inappropriate to The Sea Ranch:

• Eye catching design solutions using showy non-indigenous plant materials.
• Urban/suburban solutions, such as contrived (rather than naturally aligned) walkways, defined beds and formal borders, fine lawns, conspicuous specimen plants, obvious geometric shapes created with plant materials etc.
• Excessive plantings which detract from the natural surroundings (such as masses of one species with conspicuous blooming performance).
• Plantings which by their expanse and height hinder the enjoyment of views from neighboring properties.

Prospective home builders at The Sea Ranch are encouraged to utilize the concept of private courtyard spaces, designed as an integral part of the structure so as to not infringe on the enjoyment of The Sea Ranch by others. Within these protected private areas an owner may pursue a more complex, colorful and exotic planting scheme.

Vegetation Zone Descriptions

The Sea Ranch includes 6 Vegetation Zones, defined below.  The plants typical of these zones are the result of the influence of the soils, the proximity to the ocean, the wind strength and direction, the slope of the land, the amount of sun, and the historical influence of humans. Descriptions of these zones are given below.   However, see also Table 10 and Section 3.0 of the Comprehensive Environmental Plan for extensions of some definitions and discussion of the changing nature of the landscape.  Plantings for individual lots should take these site specific issues into account beyond the more general Vegetation Zone.

Salt Spray (Ocean Bluffs in section 2.2.1 of design manual”:  “The bluffs at the edge of the ocean are dramatic and fragile. They are battered by the sea and wind and held together by cypress and other native plants. They are continually threatened by increased runoff and erosion. Poor drainage management can exacerbate erosion problems, particularly at the bluff edges. Views are often dramatic, ranging from intimate coves and rock outcroppings to sweeping vistas up and down the coast. Owners of lots located near the bluffs have a special responsibility because buildings located here are highly visible from the meadows above and from the bluff trails.”

Dune While the limited areas of dune zone on northern part of The Sea Ranch is part of the salt spray zone, its soils are mostly sandy and the winds may be stronger.  As a result, the vegetation is more limited, while proving a character different from any other part of The Sea Ranch.  These areas typically are formed by wind blown sand off of The Sea Ranch beaches.

Lower Terrace (Meadow in section 2.2.2 of the Design Manual) “ The meadows, just inland from the bluffs, are former grazing lands that are subdivided by the dramatic cypress hedgerows. The landscape between the hedgerows is generally low, with occasional trees and shrubs. Uncontrolled tree and shrub growth can be a management problem. The land gently undulates, so there is considerable visual variety and, like the bluff area, the homes are generally quite visible. Riparian corridors and seasonal streams, some lined with willows, pass through the meadows and are important landscape features that cannot be disturbed. Wetlands act as sponges that absorb runoff from higher elevations. Because vegetation is less dense and landforms are relatively flat, the relationship between houses is most noticeable in the meadows. Therefore, it requires sensitive design work to integrate the structures into the landscape…. “

Terrace Break (Transitional Zone in section 2.2.3 of the Design Manual) “In the transitional zone, on either side of Highway One, the land form is irregular and often shaped by stream channels. The landscape is varied, with more trees and masses of large native shrubs such as coffee berry, wax myrtle, ceanothus, and western azalea. The topography is often steeper, providing the opportunity for multilevel houses that respond to the grade changes. It also requires more attention to drainage and grading….”

Upper Terrace While more gently sloping, like the lower terrace, the upper terrace is marked by less ocean influence:  warmer and sometimes sunnier in summer, less wind, more and taller trees.  Streams with riparian vegetation and penetration by upland forest make this a mixed zone in many places.

Uplands Forest (Hilltop Forest in section 2.2. of the Design Manual).   “The hilltop forest zone consists of the hillside ridge as well as forestlands east of the ridge that are not visible from the lower elevations. Some home sites on the ridge have extensive ocean and coastal views. In the reverse view, ridge-top homes are often prominently visible from the lower zones. The coniferous forest areas vary in vegetation density with sites that are open and others that are heavily forested and dark. In some of the densely forested areas, the stream channels are deep and dramatic with a mix of riparian vegetation. Like the Transitional Zone, the topography is varied and provides both opportunity and additional responsibilities….”

Vegetation Zone Lot Lookup

Planting of vegetation outside a screened courtyard requires DCEM approval, after providing the DCEM with a filled out Landscaping/Planting Request form. The Sea Ranch has identified different vegetation zones that are reflective of different ecological zones at TSR. Knowing the appropriate plants within the vegetation zone for a lot will help preparing a planting proposal. These zones are generalizations and different choices may be appropriate. Therefore, please discuss the area and plant options with the DCEM before developing a final plan.

This page links each lot to the corresponding vegetation zone on The Sea Ranch and provides a link to the list of plants designated for that zone.

• Begin either by clicking on your unit number (U) in the grid below or scroll down to your unit in the table beneath the grid.
• Identify the vegetation zone for a lot within the unit.
• To see the list of indigenous and introduced plants for the zone, click the vegetation zone name in the table..
• To find the lot's relationship to vegetation zones in the area, click on the map number at the right of table to see the map that contains the lot.
• To return to the grid of unit numbers at the top of the table, click on any unit number at the left of set.