Chorizanthe spinosa
Mojave spineflower
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Chorizanthe spinosa (Mojave spineflower) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by mounding habit and 3-part bracts.
Mojave spineflower is a rare California native (CNPS rank 4.2) perennial found in southern Santa Lucia Ranges (Caliente Range) and western Mojave Desert in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 600 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers in small, dense clusters forming open, flat-topped arrays. Growing 3 to 8 centimeters tall with a spreading to ascending habit, it forms mound-like clusters up to 8 centimeters in diameter. Its basal leaves are oblong to spoon-shaped, tomentose underneath, measuring 5 to 15 millimeters long and wide with a distinctive woolly texture. The fruit is small, approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, with nine stamens fused to the base of the perianth tube.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; diagnostic mounding habit and 3-part bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand or gravel
Elevation: 600-1300 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Amador, Fresno, Monterey
Bloom period
Chorizanthe spinosa blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 spinosa native to California?
Yes. Chorizanthe spinosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chorizanthe spinosa bloom?
Chorizanthe spinosa blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Chorizanthe spinosa grow?
Chorizanthe spinosa occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Amador, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 600-1300 m.
What plant family does Chorizanthe spinosa belong to?
Chorizanthe spinosa is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Chorizanthe.
Is Chorizanthe spinosa rare or endangered?
Chorizanthe spinosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.