Cleomella lutea
Yellow bee plant
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cleomella lutea (Yellow bee plant) is a native California herb in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by similar to other bee plants but intermediate size.
Yellow bee plant is a California native annual found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and desert mountains in dry, sandy flats, desert scrub, and weedy roadsides at elevations of 1,100 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with 5 to 8 millimeter oblong to ovate petals arranged in racemes. Growing 15 to 30 centimeters tall with sparsely branched stems from upper nodes, it has a relatively open, slender structure. Its leaves are composed of 5 leaflets ranging from 1.5 to 6 centimeters long, typically linear to elliptic in shape. The plant produces elongated capsule fruits 15 to 40 millimeters long that are slightly linear and round in cross-section.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; similar to other bee plants but intermediate size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy flats, desert scrub, weedy roadsides
Elevation: 1100-2400 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono
Outside California: to northern Washington, Nebraska, New Mexico, Baja California
Bloom period
Cleomella lutea blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Physaria: Physaria has inflated bladder-like pods and 4 petals; Cleomella has small flat round capsules and variable petals.; vs Astragalus: Astragalus has compound leaves and pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has palmately divided leaves and regular flowers.; vs Sesbania: Sesbania has pinnately compound leaves and large pea flowers; Cleomella has palmate leaves and small regular flowers.; vs Atriplex: Atriplex has tiny greenish flowers and simple leaves; Cleomella has showy flowers and palmately divided leaves.; vs Isocoma: Isocoma has yellow composite flower heads; Cleomella has individual flowers with separate petals and prominent stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cleomella lutea native to California?
Yes. Cleomella lutea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella lutea bloom?
Cleomella lutea blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Cleomella lutea grow?
Cleomella lutea occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, at elevations of 1100-2400 m.
What plant family does Cleomella lutea belong to?
Cleomella lutea is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
What habitat does Cleomella lutea grow in?
Cleomella lutea grows in Dry, sandy flats, desert scrub, weedy roadsides.
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.