Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila
Photo: parent species Calystegia sepium · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila is a native California vine in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by large bracts exceeding sepals.
Morning glory is a California native perennial found in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Coast, Transverse Ranges, eastern Mojave Desert, and Delta regions in marshes and riverbanks at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink-tinged flowers 30 to 58 millimeters long with broadly spreading corolla lobes. Growing with glabrous stems and trailing or climbing habit, it has distinctive leaves with rounded to square sinuses and acute tips. Its leaves feature lobes that spread abruptly, with bracts 13 to 28 millimeters long that are generally wider than the sepals. The plant's inflorescence is characterized by narrowly ovate bracts that are either flat or slightly keeled.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key feature is large bracts exceeding sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes, riverbanks
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Orange, San Bernardino, Solano, Riverside, San Joaquin, Humboldt, Sacramento, Santa Cruz
Outside California: to eastern United States, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila blooms May-Jul.
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 sepium subsp. limnophila native to California?
Yes. Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila bloom?
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila grow?
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila occurs in Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Orange, San Bernardino, Solano, Riverside, San Joaquin, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila belong to?
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Calystegia.
What habitat does Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila grow in?
Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila grows in Marshes, riverbanks.
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.