Chorizanthe eastwoodiae
Eastwood's spineflower
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Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Chorizanthe eastwoodiae (Eastwood's spineflower) is a native California perennial in the Polygonaceae family.
Eastwood's spineflower is a California native perennial found in coastal sand habitats at low elevations from 10 to 500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate white to rose-colored flowers with rounded petals and tiny teeth at their tips. Growing as a mat-forming plant spreading 0.5 to 10 centimeters in diameter, it has decumbent to prostrate branches with a distinctive pinkish herbage. Its basal leaves are oblong-oblanceolate, measuring 1 to 4 centimeters long and 0.3 to 0.6 centimeters wide, contributing to its low-growing, sprawling appearance. The plant's intricate involucre features six alternating lobes with delicate white to pink scarious margins and small hooked awns.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated with distinctive mat-forming habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sand
Elevation: 10-500 m
Bloom period
Chorizanthe eastwoodiae blooms Apr-Jul.
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 eastwoodiae native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe eastwoodiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chorizanthe eastwoodiae bloom?
Chorizanthe eastwoodiae blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Chorizanthe eastwoodiae belong to?
Chorizanthe eastwoodiae is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
What habitat does Chorizanthe eastwoodiae grow in?
Chorizanthe eastwoodiae grows in Uncommon. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.