Calystegia soldanella
Beach morning glory
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Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Calystegia soldanella (Beach morning glory) is a native California vine in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by distinctive coastal habitat and leaf shape.
Beach morning glory is a California native perennial found in coastal bioregions including northern and central Coast Ranges and southern California coastal areas in sandy seashores and coastal strand habitats at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces deep pink or purple flowers 32 to 52 millimeters long with distinctive wide petals. Growing as a low-spreading plant with decumbent stems less than 60 centimeters long, it spreads via underground rhizomes. Its leaves are notably fleshy and kidney-shaped, measuring 1 to 3 centimeters wide and approximately twice as wide as they are long. The plant's large ovate bracts partially hide the flower's calyx, creating an intriguing structural complexity along coastal landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinctive coastal habitat and leaf shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy seashores, coastal strand
Elevation: < 50 m
California counties: Humboldt, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, Orange, Monterey, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Alameda, San Francisco
Outside California: worldwide, especially temperate
Bloom period
Calystegia soldanella blooms Apr-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 soldanella native to California?
Yes. Calystegia soldanella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calystegia soldanella bloom?
Calystegia soldanella blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Calystegia soldanella grow?
Calystegia soldanella occurs in Humboldt, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, Orange, Monterey, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 50 m.
What plant family does Calystegia soldanella belong to?
Calystegia soldanella is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Calystegia.
What habitat does Calystegia soldanella grow in?
Calystegia soldanella grows in Sandy seashores, coastal strand.
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.