Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by Northern genus reaching into California mountains; Pacific subspecies represents the genus's only form in the state.
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada Forests, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, San Bernardino Mountains, and Warner Mountains in cool, moist conifer forests at elevations below 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate white flowers with small petals 1 to 1.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender, erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall that are densely covered in stiff, short hairs, it forms simple, upright stems. Its leaves are ovate to nearly round, 3 to 11 centimeters long, with rounded or slightly heart-shaped bases and sharp tips. The small fruits are approximately 2 millimeters long and develop from the plant's erect, glandular racemes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Northern genus reaching into California mountains; Pacific subspecies represents the genus's only form in the state
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cool, moist, conifer forest
Elevation: < 2700 m
California counties: Humboldt, Nevada, Tuolumne, Placer, Butte, San Bernardino, Trinity, Mariposa, Fresno, Marin, Siskiyou, Plumas, Mendocino, Tulare, El Dorado, Calaveras, Sonoma, Modoc, Shasta, Kern, Mono, Sierra, Alpine, Madera, Tehama, Glenn, Amador, Del Norte
Outside California: to western Canada, Montana, New Mexico
Bloom period
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Whipplea: Circaea has opposite leaves and 2-petaled flowers; Whipplea has whorled leaves and 5-petaled flowers.; vs Clinopodium: Circaea has 2 white petals; Clinopodium has tubular 2-lipped flowers typical of mints.; vs Neoholmgrenia: Circaea has white 2-petaled flowers; Neoholmgrenia has yellow 4-petaled flowers.; vs Agave: Circaea is a delicate woodland herb; agave is a massive succulent rosette.
Frequently asked questions
Is Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica native to California?
Yes. Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica bloom?
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica grow?
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica occurs in Humboldt, Nevada, Tuolumne, Placer, Butte, San Bernardino, Trinity, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of < 2700 m.
What plant family does Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica belong to?
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica is in the Onagraceae family, genus Circaea.
What habitat does Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica grow in?
Circaea alpina subsp. pacifica grows in Cool, moist, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.