Brodiaea terrestris
Dwarf brodiaea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Brodiaea terrestris (Dwarf brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family.
Dwarf brodiaea is a California native perennial found in open grasslands and oak woodlands, typically at low to moderate elevations. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces violet to white flowers with recurved tips, forming slender clusters on thin scapes 5 to 20 centimeters tall. Growing with a slender, graceful form, it emerges from an underground corm with narrow, grass-like stems. Its flowers feature distinctive white to violet staminodes that lean toward but do not touch the stamens, creating an intricate floral structure. The perianth is narrow bell-shaped, measuring 15 to 39.5 millimeters long with lobes 10 to 24 millimeters in length.
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, Sonoma, Merced, Glenn, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, San Bernardino, San Benito, San Mateo, Solano
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 terrestris native to California?
Yes. Brodiaea terrestris is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Brodiaea terrestris grow?
Brodiaea terrestris occurs in Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, Sonoma, Merced and other counties.
What plant family does Brodiaea terrestris belong to?
Brodiaea terrestris is in the Themidaceae family, genus Brodiaea.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Brodiaea terrestris subsp. kernensis
- Brodiaea terrestris subsp. terrestris
- Brodiaea appendiculata — Appendage brodiaea
- Brodiaea californica — California brodiaea
- Brodiaea coronaria — Garland brodiaea
- Brodiaea elegans subsp. elegans — Harvest brodiaea
- Dichelostemma congestum — Fork-toothed ookow
- Dichelostemma ida-maia — Firecracker flower
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.