Amsinckia retrorsa
Rigid fiddleneck
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Amsinckia retrorsa (Rigid fiddleneck) is a native California annual in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by gray bristly appearance and unmarked flowers.
Rigid fiddleneck is a California native annual found in dry, disturbed sites throughout California, particularly in rare (D) distribution areas, at elevations up to 1,600 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small yellow flowers in delicate clusters with corollas 5 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant is characterized by grayish herbage covered in bristly, soft hairs that give it a distinctive textured appearance. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, covered in reflexed hairs that contribute to its overall grayish-green coloration. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long, with dense, sharp tubercles that aid in seed dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; gray bristly appearance and unmarked flowers help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shade-intolerant, disturbed, dry sites, roadsides
Elevation: < 1600(2250) m
California counties: Los Angeles, Modoc, Siskiyou, Fresno, El Dorado, Amador, Riverside, San Benito, San Mateo, Plumas, Stanislaus, Tehama, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Madera, Ventura, Monterey, San Bernardino, Lake, Kern, Calaveras, Tulare, Placer, Inyo, Merced, Yuba, Sacramento, Humboldt, Colusa, Mendocino, San Joaquin
Outside California: to southeastern British Columbia, Idaho, Utah
Bloom period
Amsinckia retrorsa blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Phacelia: Amsinckia always has orange or yellow flowers; Phacelia flowers are blue, purple, or white.; vs Plantago: Amsinckia has coiled orange flower clusters; Plantago has dense spikes with tiny white-brown flowers.; vs Helminthotheca: Amsinckia has bristly stems but simple leaves; Helminthotheca leaves are prickly-bumpy textured.; vs Echium: Amsinckia flowers are orange-yellow; Echium flowers are blue-purple and distinctly lopsided.; vs Camissoniopsis: Amsinckia has coiled flower clusters; Camissoniopsis has 4-petaled evening primrose flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amsinckia retrorsa native to California?
Yes. Amsinckia retrorsa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amsinckia retrorsa bloom?
Amsinckia retrorsa blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Amsinckia retrorsa grow?
Amsinckia retrorsa occurs in Los Angeles, Modoc, Siskiyou, Fresno, El Dorado, Amador, Riverside, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of < 1600(2250) m.
What plant family does Amsinckia retrorsa belong to?
Amsinckia retrorsa is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Amsinckia.
What habitat does Amsinckia retrorsa grow in?
Amsinckia retrorsa grows in Shade-intolerant, disturbed, dry sites, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.