Apocynum cannabinum

Hemp dogbane, Hemp Dogbane

Family: Apocynaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Hemp dogbane is a California native perennial found in moist areas throughout much of California, including near streams, springs, and occasionally in orchards at elevations of 150 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers in delicate clusters. Growing with stout, nearly stiff-erect stems that branch near the top and reach 30 to 90 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive upright habit. Its leaves are elongated, 5 to 8 centimeters long, with bases that taper or clasp the stem and tips ranging from obtuse to acute. The plant produces long, slender seed pods approximately 6 to 9 centimeters in length that hang pendulously from the branches.

Habitat: Moist places, near streams, springs, or as weed in orchards

Bloom period: Apr-Oct

Elevation: 150-2000 m

Bioregions: CA (exc evidently NCo, CaRF, SNF, CCo, SCo, ChI)

California counties: Mendocino, San Diego, Inyo, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Imperial, Siskiyou, Riverside, Mono, Ventura, Orange, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, Tulare, Butte, Colusa, Plumas, Placer, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Madera, Mariposa, Sacramento, Modoc, Alpine, Contra Costa, Kings, Shasta, Yuba, Sutter, Trinity, Tehama, Lassen, Glenn, Napa, Amador, Nevada, Humboldt, Santa Clara, El Dorado, Sierra, Monterey, San Benito, Yolo, Alameda

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.