Chorizanthe cuspidata

San francisco spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

San francisco spineflower is a California native perennial found in coastal regions in sandy or rocky areas at elevations near sea level. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate white to rose-colored flowers in compact, dense clusters with intricate branching. Growing as a mat-forming or mounded plant 5 to 100 centimeters in diameter, it spreads with decumbent to ascending branches emerging from its base. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 5 to 50 millimeters long and 3 to 10 millimeters wide, covered with fine hairs on both surfaces. The involucre is distinctively three-angled with six ribs, and its perianth is adorned with white to rose-colored lobes that create a subtle, intricate appearance.

California counties: San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara

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