Ayenia compacta
California ayenia
(c) mel letterman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Ayenia compacta (California ayenia) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by Only Ayenia species in California, distinguished by unique spherical fruits with cylindrical protuberances.
California ayenia is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges desert slope, eastern and central Mojave Desert, and western and central Sonoran Desert in sandy and gravelly washes and dry canyons at elevations of 100 to 1,160 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small white to pale yellow flowers approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long with distinctive petal claws. Growing with multiple branches from its base, the plant reaches 10 to 40 centimeters tall with a compact, intricate growth form. Its leaves have small brown stipules, with delicate foliage that provides textural interest to the plant's structure. The fruit is spherical, straw-colored with unusual purple cylindrical protuberances, and contains distinctive black seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Ayenia species in California, distinguished by unique spherical fruits with cylindrical protuberances
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly washes, dry canyons
Elevation: 100-1160 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino
Outside California: southwestern Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Ayenia compacta blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Parnassia: Ayenia has thread-like petals and fused stamen tube; Parnassia has broad petals and free stamens.; vs Limonium: Ayenia has thread-like petals; sea lavender has obvious papery petals in branched clusters.; vs Linum: Ayenia has stamens fused in a tube; flax has free separate stamens.; vs Drosera: Ayenia has thread-like petals and smooth leaves; sundew has broader petals and sticky-haired leaves.; vs Armeria: Ayenia has thread-like petals; thrift has papery petals in dense rounded flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ayenia compacta native to California?
Yes. Ayenia compacta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ayenia compacta bloom?
Ayenia compacta blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Ayenia compacta grow?
Ayenia compacta occurs in Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, at elevations of 100-1160 m.
What plant family does Ayenia compacta belong to?
Ayenia compacta is in the Malvaceae family, genus Ayenia.
Is Ayenia compacta rare or endangered?
Ayenia compacta carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.