Camissonia pubens
Hairy sun cup
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Camissonia pubens (Hairy sun cup) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by glandular hairs and wavy leaf margins.
Hairy sun cup is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and northern Mojave Desert in scattered sagebrush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers that fade to reddish with occasional basal spots, blooming in delicate clusters. Growing with slender, erect stems less than 38 centimeters tall and covered in glandular hairs, it has a distinctive spreading growth habit. Its leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 15 to 45 millimeters long with wavy, serrated edges that create a delicate textural appearance. The fruit develops 26 to 50 millimeters long, slightly swollen with seeds and presenting as either straight or gently wavy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; glandular hairs and wavy leaf margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, generally sagebrush scrub or pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1000-3000 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Camissonia pubens blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Camissonia flowers from top with round fruits; Camissoniopsis flowers from base with four-angled fruits.; vs Eulobus: Camissonia has plain yellow petals; Eulobus has elegant wands with red flecks at petal bases.; vs Chylismia: Camissonia has narrow leaves up the stem; Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves.; vs Taraxia: Camissonia flowers from upper stem; Taraxia flowers open from ground level at night.; vs Eschscholzia: Camissonia has four petals and cylindrical fruits; Eschscholzia has dissected leaves and poppy-like flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camissonia pubens native to California?
Yes. Camissonia pubens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Camissonia pubens bloom?
Camissonia pubens blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Camissonia pubens belong to?
Camissonia pubens is in the Onagraceae family, genus Camissonia.
What habitat does Camissonia pubens grow in?
Camissonia pubens grows in Sandy soils, generally sagebrush scrub or pinyon/juniper 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.