Cleomella platycarpa
Golden bee plant
(c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cleomaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cleomella platycarpa (Golden bee plant) is a native California herb in the Cleomaceae family, recognized by distinctive glandular-hairy habit and flat wide capsules.
Golden bee plant is a California native annual found in the Shasta Valley and Modoc Plateau in alkaline clay soils and volcanic tuff areas of dry foothills and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces golden yellow flowers with oblong petals 6 to 12 millimeters long. Growing 1 to 6 decimeters tall with green and purple densely branched stems that are glandular-hairy, it has a distinctive spreading habit. Its leaves feature three leaflets, each 1 to 3.5 centimeters long, ranging from ovate to obovate in shape. The plant develops oblong capsule fruits 12 to 25 millimeters long that are slightly flattened and covered in fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinctive glandular-hairy habit and flat wide capsules
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline, clay soils, volcanic tuff, dry foothills, often sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1200-1500 m
Outside California: Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Cleomella platycarpa blooms May-Jul.
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 platycarpa native to California?
Yes. Cleomella platycarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cleomella platycarpa bloom?
Cleomella platycarpa blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Cleomella platycarpa belong to?
Cleomella platycarpa is in the Cleomaceae family, genus Cleomella.
What habitat does Cleomella platycarpa grow in?
Cleomella platycarpa grows in Alkaline, clay soils, volcanic tuff, dry foothills, often sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.