Brodiaea coronaria
Garland brodiaea, Garland Brodiaea
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Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Brodiaea coronaria (Garland brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by campanulate tube diagnostic.
Garland brodiaea is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, and northern California foothills in vernal pools, grasslands, and oak woodlands at elevations of 30 to 390 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces violet flowers with long, ascending perianth lobes 14 to 28.5 millimeters long and tips that gently recurve. Growing with slender scapes 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges gracefully from underground corms. Its flowers feature distinctive white staminodes that lean toward but do not touch the stamens, creating an elegant architectural structure. The delicate violet blooms are carried on pedicels up to 5.5 centimeters long, making it a striking addition to its seasonal grassland habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; campanulate tube diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, grassland, oak woodland
Elevation: 30-390(760) m
California counties: Tulare, Riverside, Mariposa, Placer, Calaveras, Tehama, Los Angeles, Shasta, San Diego, Sacramento, Kern, Sonoma, Butte, Modoc, Lassen, Mendocino, San Mateo, Stanislaus, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Yuba, Plumas, San Joaquin, Lake, Humboldt, Marin, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, Solano, El Dorado, Nevada, Yolo, Merced, Siskiyou, Sutter, Sierra, Fresno, Alameda, Napa, Madera, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Brodiaea coronaria blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Count the stamens: Brodiaea has 3 fertile stamens, Triteleia has 6.; vs Dipterostemon: Brodiaea has straight flower stalks; Dipterostemon stalks curve or bend.; vs Dichelostemma: Brodiaea stalks stay straight and upright; Dichelostemma stalks curve, twist, or twine.; vs Sisyrinchium: Brodiaea flowers are tubular; Sisyrinchium flowers are flat and star-shaped.; vs Scilla: Brodiaea has tubular flowers with visible stamens inside; Scilla has bell-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brodiaea coronaria native to California?
Yes. Brodiaea coronaria is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brodiaea coronaria bloom?
Brodiaea coronaria blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Brodiaea coronaria grow?
Brodiaea coronaria occurs in Tulare, Riverside, Mariposa, Placer, Calaveras, Tehama, Los Angeles, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 30-390(760) m.
What plant family does Brodiaea coronaria belong to?
Brodiaea coronaria is in the Themidaceae family, genus Brodiaea.
What habitat does Brodiaea coronaria grow in?
Brodiaea coronaria grows in Vernal pools, grassland, oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.