Chorizanthe douglasii

Douglas' spineflower

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Douglas' spineflower is a native perennial found in eastern Santa Cruz Mountains and inner Coast Ranges in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate white to rose or purple flowers in dense, rounded clusters with distinctive reddish to purple membrane-like connections between flower lobes. Growing with erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant branches in an ascending pattern and is softly hairy throughout. Its leaves are primarily basal, with narrow oblong to oblanceolate blades 5 to 20 millimeters long and 1 to 4 millimeters wide, covered in soft hairs. The intricate involucre surrounding the flower is triangular, 3 to 5 millimeters long, with six alternating lobes that create an elegant, structured appearance.

Habitat: Sand or gravel

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: (200)300-1600 m

Bioregions: e SCoRO, SCoRI.

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Mendocino, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz

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