Bowlesia incana
Hoary bowlesia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Bowlesia incana (Hoary bowlesia) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by New World genus with this species extending from California to South America.
Hoary bowlesia is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges, central Sierra Nevada foothills, San Joaquin Valley, central western California, southwestern California, and eastern Mojave Desert in shaded areas beneath trees, rocks, and shrubs at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small yellow-green flowers in delicate axillary clusters. Growing with slender stems 0.5 to 6 decimeters tall, it spreads in low, sprawling formations. Its leaves are generally opposite with round to kidney-shaped blades 0.5 to 3 centimeters wide, featuring 5 to 9 widely lanceolate lobes that extend approximately halfway to the base. The fruit is a small, inflated ovoid structure 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: New World genus with this species extending from California to South America
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shade of trees, rocks, shrubs
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Riverside, Kern, Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Mateo, San Diego, Alameda, Orange, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Ventura, Contra Costa, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Benito, Madera, Marin, Stanislaus, Mariposa, Calaveras, Glenn, Sonoma, Humboldt, San Joaquin, Amador, Santa Cruz, Merced, Lake, Alpine
Outside California: to Texas, South America
Bloom period
Bowlesia incana blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Ranunculus: Bowlesia is covered in fuzzy star-shaped hairs; buttercups are smooth and shiny.; vs Oxalis: Bowlesia has inflated puffy fruits; Oxalis has elongated capsules that explosively pop open.; vs Geranium: Bowlesia fruits are round and inflated; Geranium fruits have distinctive long pointed beaks.; vs Marah: Bowlesia is a low fuzzy herb with tiny flowers; manroot is a massive vine with large spiny fruits.; vs Delphinium: Bowlesia has star-shaped hairs and round leaves; Delphinium is smooth with deeply divided palmate leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bowlesia incana native to California?
Yes. Bowlesia incana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bowlesia incana bloom?
Bowlesia incana blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Bowlesia incana grow?
Bowlesia incana occurs in Riverside, Kern, Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Monterey, San Mateo, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Bowlesia incana belong to?
Bowlesia incana is in the Apiaceae family, genus Bowlesia.
What habitat does Bowlesia incana grow in?
Bowlesia incana grows in Shade of trees, rocks, shrubs.
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.