A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Nicotiana glauca
Found near foothills of Mt Diablo. Lots of hummingbirds seen on this tree,
Sure, but a lot of the flowers that the bees pollinate won't be attractive or structurally suitable to hummingbirds. The plant is out competing native species which are likely also attractive to the hummingbirds, and these plants then sadly have less resources and habitat in which flourish. In turn any native bugs etc that have a dependancy on those native plants also have their existence put in peril...... Sorry to be a downer but it can be quite a serious issue in some ecosystems.
We need pollinators in California due to the rapidly declining bee population.
in that case this tree does serve a purpose!
@ Craig,since you are so knowledgeable about plants, I thought that this plant might interest you.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/642...
A proper plant pest. This is shockingly rampant throughout parts of Andalucia and I wonder where else......