Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata
Photo: parent species Calystegia occidentalis · (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata is a native California vine in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by weak climbing habit, single-tipped leaf lobes, leaf-like bracts.
western morning-glory is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges on dry slopes, chaparral, and pine woodland at elevations of 300 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers in single, distinctive blooms. Growing with trailing or weakly climbing stems less than one meter long, it has a flexible, sprawling growth habit. Its leaves have distinct lobes typically ending in a single point, with narrow lanceolate bracts below the flower that are 5 to 30 millimeters long. The plant's ability to wind through chaparral and woodland understory makes it a characteristic feature of California's mid-elevation plant communities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are weak climbing habit, single-tipped leaf lobes, leaf-like bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, chaparral, pine woodland
Elevation: 300-2700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Madera, Riverside, Mariposa, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Tulare, Kern, Ventura, Orange, Tuolumne, Sacramento, Placer, Sonoma, Plumas, Butte, Calaveras, Mendocino, Napa, Inyo
Bloom period
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Convolvulus: Convolvulus has smaller flowers with sharply pointed stigma lobes; Calystegia stigma lobes are blunt.; vs Ipomoea: Ipomoea stigma is a single rounded knob; Calystegia stigma has two distinct flattened lobes.; vs Datura: Datura flowers are upright with pleated edges; Calystegia flowers are smooth funnels.; vs Abronia: Abronia has clusters of small tubular flowers; Calystegia has single large funnel flowers.; vs Oenothera: Oenothera has four separate petals; Calystegia petals are fused into continuous funnel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata native to California?
Yes. Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata bloom?
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata grow?
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata occurs in San Bernardino, Madera, Riverside, Mariposa, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 300-2700 m.
What plant family does Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata belong to?
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Calystegia.
What habitat does Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata grow in?
Calystegia occidentalis subsp. fulcrata grows in dry slopes, chaparral, pine 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.