Castilleja densiflora subsp. gracilis

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: annual · Native

Dense-flowered owl's clover is a California native annual herb found in southern coastal ranges and southwestern California in grassland habitats at elevations below 1,550 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces rose-purple flowers with bracts shorter than the flower clusters. Growing with slender stems typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant forms delicate branching structures. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, alternating along the stem with fine, lance-shaped margins. The flower's lower lip widens abruptly, with small teeth less than 1 millimeter long and distinctive pouches shorter than the flower's depth.

Habitat: Grassland

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 1550 m

Bioregions: SCoR, SW

California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Kern

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.