Some stands are composed of more open stands of shrubs that sometimes gain the stature of small, bushy trees. Chaparral is a quite variable and is often composed of a diverisity of different species. As a result, chaparral communities have been subdivided into several different types depending on location and dominant species. Chaparral is the characteristic plant cover on steep slopes that are too hot and dry to support coastal live oak woodland. The soils of chaparral are generally shallow, infertile, rocky or gravelly in texture and have a low water holding capacity.
Chaparral soils are also highly erodible.
In southern California, chaparral communities are a dominant feature of the landscape where they cover much of the lower elevation of the southern California mountains and are also found in the areas of lower elevation near the coast. In the coastal regions of the central and southern california, chaparral communities are closely associated to coastal scrub communities. Chaparral communities are often subject to large seasonal temperature fluctuations with high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures. Soils encountered in chaparral communities are often shallow, rocky, and nutrient poor. Herbaceous undergrowth is usually very sparse or nonexistent in mature chaparral stands due to several factors.