Blitum capitatum
Strawberry-blite, Strawberry-Blite
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Family: Amaranthaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Blitum capitatum (Strawberry-blite) is a non-native California herb in the Amaranthaceae family, recognized by distinctive spherical clusters and red fleshy fruits, high elevation habitat.
Strawberry-blite is a non-native annual found in the Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges, and White and Inyo Mountains bioregions, growing in moist to dry sandy or grassy meadows, thickets, and open woodland below 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, it reaches 15 to 100 centimeters tall with sharply toothed leaves and terminal spikes 5 to 20 centimeters long bearing fleshy fruit that ripens red to dark red from the top of the plant downward.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species - distinctive spherical clusters and red fleshy fruits, high elevation habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to dry, sandy or grassy meadows, thickets, open woodland
Elevation: < 3000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, San Diego
Outside California: to northern Canada, eastern United States; native to Europe
Bloom period
Blitum capitatum blooms Jun--Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Chenopodiastrum: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Chenopodiastrum is smooth to slightly hairy without mealy texture.; vs Atriplex: Chenopodium has perfect flowers; Atriplex has separate male/female flowers with paired bracts on fruits.; vs Blitum: Chenopodium has dry fruits; Blitum has fleshy, berry-like fruiting calyxes.; vs Amaranthus: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Amaranthus is smooth with dense bristly flower spikes.; vs Rumex: Chenopodium has 5-parted flowers in clusters; Rumex has 6-parted flowers in whorls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blitum capitatum native to California?
No. Blitum capitatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Blitum capitatum bloom?
Blitum capitatum blooms Jun--Aug.
Where in California does Blitum capitatum grow?
Blitum capitatum occurs in Los Angeles, Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, San Diego, at elevations of < 3000 m.
What plant family does Blitum capitatum belong to?
Blitum capitatum is in the Amaranthaceae family, genus Blitum.
What habitat does Blitum capitatum grow in?
Blitum capitatum grows in Moist to dry, sandy or grassy meadows, thickets, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.