Chorizanthe blakleyi
Blakley's spineflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Chorizanthe blakleyi (Blakley's spineflower) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by geographic restriction to Sierra Madre Mountains and deeply 2-lobed petals.
Blakley's spineflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the southern Santa Madre Mountains in Santa Barbara County, growing in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 600 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers with a green-white tube, delicately arranged in dense, flat clusters. Growing 5 to 15 centimeters tall with openly branched, ascending stems, it spreads 5 to 30 centimeters in diameter and has a thinly hairy appearance. Its leaves are primarily basal, with oblanceolate blades 5 to 25 millimeters long and 3 to 8 millimeters wide, giving the plant a distinctive, compact form. The plant's unique involucre is yellow-green, three-angled, and six-ribbed, with six lobes bearing straight or slightly curved awns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; geographic restriction to Sierra Madre Mountains and deeply 2-lobed petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand or gravel
Elevation: 600-1600 m
California counties: Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Chorizanthe blakleyi blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Chorizanthe has 1 flower per involucre; Eriogonum has multiple flowers per involucre.; vs Eremothera: Chorizanthe has 6-parted flowers in spiny cups; Eremothera has 4-petaled evening-primrose flowers.; vs Calyptridium: Chorizanthe has flowers in awned involucres; Calyptridium has naked flowers with papery sepals.; vs Lastarriaea: Chorizanthe has thin papery flowers; Lastarriaea has distinctly thick, leathery-textured flowers.; vs Navarretia: Chorizanthe is in Polygonaceae with 6-parted flowers; Navarretia is in Polemoniaceae with 5-lobed tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chorizanthe blakleyi native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe blakleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chorizanthe blakleyi bloom?
Chorizanthe blakleyi blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Chorizanthe blakleyi grow?
Chorizanthe blakleyi occurs in Santa Barbara, at elevations of 600-1600 m.
What plant family does Chorizanthe blakleyi belong to?
Chorizanthe blakleyi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
Is Chorizanthe blakleyi rare or endangered?
Chorizanthe blakleyi carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chorizanthe brevicornu — Brittle spine flower
- Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu — Brittle spineflower
- Chorizanthe brevicornu var. spathulata — Great basin brittle spineflower
- Chorizanthe breweri — Brewer's spineflower
- Chorizanthe clevelandii — Cleveland's spineflower
- Chorizanthe corrugata — Wrinkled spineflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.