Collinsia callosa
Desert collinsia
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia callosa (Desert collinsia) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by fleshy habit and clasping leaves diagnostic.
Desert collinsia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, southern Coast Ranges, eastern Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, Mojave Desert, and desert mountain ranges including Panamint and Argus in disturbed rocky slopes, open chaparral, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon or pine woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender-blue flowers 7 to 9 millimeters long in open, conspicuously glandular inflorescences. Growing 4 to 25 centimeters tall with a stout and fleshy habit, it has erect stems with distinctively clasping middle and distal leaves. Its leaves are generally less than 3 centimeters long, oblong to ovate in shape, with obtuse tips and slightly rolled edges. The fruit is characterized by a calyx nearly equal in size to the seed, generally over 5 millimeters wide with blunt lobe tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; fleshy habit and clasping leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed rocky slopes, open chaparral, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper and pine woodland
Elevation: 1000-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Inyo, Riverside
Bloom period
Collinsia callosa blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Collinsia has stamens hidden in keeled lower lip; Penstemon has stamens visible with one sterile 'beard.'; vs Stachys: Collinsia has a keeled lower petal hiding stamens; Stachys has square stems and flowers in tight whorls.; vs Lupinus: Collinsia has snapdragon-like flowers; Lupinus has pea-family flowers with banner, wings, and keel.; vs Linaria: Collinsia has keeled lower lip hiding stamens; Linaria has spurred flowers with protruding stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collinsia callosa native to California?
Yes. Collinsia callosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia callosa bloom?
Collinsia callosa blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Collinsia callosa grow?
Collinsia callosa occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Inyo, Riverside, at elevations of 1000-2300 m.
What plant family does Collinsia callosa belong to?
Collinsia callosa is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia callosa grow in?
Collinsia callosa grows in Disturbed rocky slopes, open chaparral, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper and pine woodland.
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.