Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri
Photo: parent species Boerhavia coulteri · (c) Rachel Stringham, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri is a native California annual in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by . Limited range data available, found around 800m elevation.
Boerhavia coulteri is a California native annual herb found in arid grasslands, dry lakebeds, and disturbed areas in desert regions at elevations around 800 meters. Flowering from late spring to early fall, this plant produces delicate pale pink flowers arranged in small clusters. Growing with bright green stems that are strongly ascending to erect, it forms a low-spreading plant in harsh desert environments. Its leaves are arranged along the stem, contributing to the plant's distinctive appearance in dry, open landscapes. The fruit consists of overlapping segments 2.5 to 3.6 millimeters long, with blunt or rounded tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated. Limited range data available, found around 800m elevation.
Habitat and range
Habitat: arid grasslands, dry lakebed, among shrubs, disturbed places
Elevation: 800 m
Outside California: to NM, Mexico
Bloom period
Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri blooms Late spring-early fall.
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 coulteri var. coulteri native to California?
Yes. Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri bloom?
Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri blooms Late spring-early fall.
What plant family does Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri belong to?
Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Boerhavia.
What habitat does Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri grow in?
Boerhavia coulteri var. coulteri grows in arid grasslands, dry lakebed, among shrubs, disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.