Cannabis sativa
Hemp, marijuana, Marijuana
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Cannabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Cannabis sativa (Hemp) is a non-native California herb in the Cannabaceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus (under some classifications) of ancient cultivated origin, sporadically naturalized.
Hemp is a naturalized annual found in the California Floristic Province in disturbed areas at elevations generally below 600 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers in dense panicle-like clusters. Growing with erect branched stems up to 4 meters tall, it has distinctive inner bark that is notably fibrous. Its leaves are palmately compound, with lower leaves opposite and containing 3 to 7 narrowly lanceolate leaflets less than 15 centimeters long, coarsely serrated along the edges. The fruit is a small achene 1 to 2 millimeters long, generally enclosed within the persistent perianth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus (under some classifications) of ancient cultivated origin, sporadically naturalized
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Riverside, Imperial, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Nevada, Santa Clara, Yolo, Kings, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Butte, Alameda, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Lake
Outside California: possibly native to central Asia, but cultivated since pre-history
Bloom period
Cannabis sativa blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Acer: Cannabis leaflets are completely separate; Acer leaves are single blades with deep lobes still connected.; vs Erigeron: Cannabis has large hand-shaped compound leaves; Erigeron has simple narrow leaves along stems.; vs Ricinus: Cannabis leaflets are narrow and toothed; Ricinus has broad, smooth-edged palmate lobes.; vs Pachira: Cannabis has narrow serrated leaflets; Pachira has broad smooth-edged leaflets.; vs Celtis: Cannabis has hand-shaped compound leaves; Celtis has simple oval leaves and is a woody tree.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cannabis sativa native to California?
No. Cannabis sativa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cannabis sativa bloom?
Cannabis sativa blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Cannabis sativa grow?
Cannabis sativa occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Riverside, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of generally < 600 m.
What plant family does Cannabis sativa belong to?
Cannabis sativa is in the Cannabaceae family, genus Cannabis.
What habitat does Cannabis sativa grow in?
Cannabis sativa grows in Disturbed areas.
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.