Boerhavia coccinea
Scarlet spiderling, Scarlet Spiderling
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Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Boerhavia coccinea (Scarlet spiderling) is a native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and red-violet flowers.
Scarlet spiderling is a California native perennial found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southern California, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions of southern California in dry disturbed places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces red-violet flowers in small umbels with delicate, subtle blooms. Growing with prostrate or sprawling stems less than 15 decimeters long, it has distinctively hairy and glandular stems that spread across the ground. Its leaves are broadly ovate with blunt tips and slightly wavy edges, creating a soft, undulating appearance across the landscape. The fruit is glandular-hairy, wide, and smooth between ribs with a rounded tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species, distinguished by perennial habit and red-violet flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry disturbed places
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, San Bernardino, Imperial, Kern, Glenn, Ventura, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne
Outside California: to southeastern United States, northwestern South America
Bloom period
Boerhavia coccinea blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Allionia: Boerhavia has loose, open flower clusters; Allionia has exactly 3 flowers tightly grouped in bract cups.; vs Eriogonum: Boerhavia has opposite leaves and tiny bell flowers; Eriogonum has basal leaf rosettes and papery flower bracts.; vs Mirabilis: Boerhavia has tiny bell flowers under 5mm in loose clusters; Mirabilis has larger flowers in 5-bract cups.; vs Lantana: Boerhavia has tiny single bell flowers and sprawling stems; Lantana has dense rounded heads of tubular flowers.; vs Abronia: Boerhavia has tiny scattered flowers in loose clusters; Abronia has dense rounded pom-pom flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boerhavia coccinea native to California?
Yes. Boerhavia coccinea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boerhavia coccinea bloom?
Boerhavia coccinea blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Boerhavia coccinea grow?
Boerhavia coccinea occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, San Bernardino, Imperial, Kern, Glenn, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Boerhavia coccinea belong to?
Boerhavia coccinea is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Boerhavia.
What habitat does Boerhavia coccinea grow in?
Boerhavia coccinea grows in dry disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.