Chorizanthe parryi
Parry's spineflower
(c) Jordan Zylstra, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chorizanthe parryi (Parry's spineflower) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Parry's spineflower is a California native perennial found in rocky or sandy habitats, forming low tufted mats up to 10 centimeters tall and spreading 50 to 60 centimeters wide. Flowering from late spring to summer, this delicate plant produces small white to green-white flowers with two-toned perianth lobes, creating intricate clusters with branching inflorescence axes. Growing with prostrate to ascending branches emerging from a short erect stem, it develops hairy stems and spreads in a mat-like formation. Its leaves are predominantly basal, with oblanceolate to narrowly oblong blades measuring 5 to 25 millimeters long and 2 to 6 millimeters wide, creating a fine textured ground cover. The fruit is small, approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, with distinctive six-ribbed involucres that add to the plant's intricate architectural structure.
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino
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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Chorizanthe parryi grow?
Chorizanthe parryi occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino.
What plant family does Chorizanthe parryi belong to?
Chorizanthe parryi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina — San fernando valley spineflower
- Chorizanthe parryi var. parryi — Parry's spineflower
- Chorizanthe polygonoides — Knotweed spineflower
- Chorizanthe polygonoides var. longispina — Long-spined spineflower
- Chorizanthe polygonoides var. polygonoides — Knotweed spineflower
- Chorizanthe procumbens — Prostrate spineflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.