Collinsia corymbosa
Round-headed chinese-houses
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Collinsia corymbosa (Round-headed chinese-houses) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by NONE sympatric - geographically isolated.
Round-headed chinese-houses is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the northern coastal region of Mendocino County along coastal sand dunes at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white and pale lavender flowers 14 to 22 millimeters long with distinctive brown upper lobes and spoon-shaped lateral petals. Growing with reddish, decumbent branches 5 to 25 centimeters tall that are densely scaly, it has a delicate, spreading form. Its leaves are lanceolate to ovate, somewhat thick and crenate, with a pale green color and fine gray hairs on the upper surface. The plant produces numerous slightly concave seeds across its compact, head-like inflorescence.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE sympatric - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal sand dunes
Elevation: < 20 m
California counties: Mendocino, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Clara, Fresno
Bloom period
Collinsia corymbosa blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 corymbosa native to California?
Yes. Collinsia corymbosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia corymbosa bloom?
Collinsia corymbosa blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Collinsia corymbosa grow?
Collinsia corymbosa occurs in Mendocino, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Clara, Fresno, at elevations of < 20 m.
What plant family does Collinsia corymbosa belong to?
Collinsia corymbosa is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
Is Collinsia corymbosa rare or endangered?
Collinsia corymbosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
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.