Collomia diversifolia
Serpentine collomia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Collomia diversifolia (Serpentine collomia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by serpentine habitat and 3-toothed basal leaves.
Serpentine collomia is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native annual found in northern coastal regions including Contra Costa County, growing in rocky to gravelly serpentine areas at elevations of 60 to 900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces violet-pink flowers with a purple tube and yellow throat, approximately 9 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, the plant branches into several subequal stems covered with long translucent glandular hairs. Its lower leaves are three-toothed while upper leaves are entire, glandular-puberulent, and arranged along the stem. The plant produces two to three seeds per chamber, with white pollen adding to its distinctive characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; diagnostic serpentine habitat and 3-toothed basal leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky to gravelly serpentine areas
Elevation: 60-900 m
California counties: Lake, Napa, Tehama, Marin, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Colusa, Mendocino, Sierra, Trinity, Glenn, Contra Costa, Stanislaus, Shasta, San Joaquin, Fresno
Bloom period
Collomia diversifolia blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Collomia has entire lanceolate leaves and flowers in leafy-bracted terminal heads; Gilia has pinnately lobed or dissected basal leaves and more open inflorescences.; vs Navarretia: Collomia has soft, entire leaves and unarmed bracts; Navarretia (pincushion) has spine-tipped, often pinnately spiny bracts and prickly heads.; vs Allophyllum: Collomia leaves are entire and herbage is not skunky; Allophyllum has lobed to pinnatifid leaves and a skunk-like odor with glandular herbage.; vs Leptosiphon: Collomia has undivided lanceolate leaves; Leptosiphon and Linanthus have palmately dissected, needle-like, finger-whorled leaf lobes.; vs Microsteris: Collomia has funnel-shaped flowers in leafy terminal clusters; Microsteris is a tiny annual with small pink-and-yellow salverform flowers in the leaf axils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collomia diversifolia native to California?
Yes. Collomia diversifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collomia diversifolia bloom?
Collomia diversifolia blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Collomia diversifolia grow?
Collomia diversifolia occurs in Lake, Napa, Tehama, Marin, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Colusa, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 60-900 m.
What plant family does Collomia diversifolia belong to?
Collomia diversifolia is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Collomia.
Is Collomia diversifolia rare or endangered?
Collomia diversifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.