Cuscuta campestris
Field dodder
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Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Cuscuta campestris (Field dodder) is a native California perennial in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by distinctive large fringed scales diagnostic.
Field dodder is a native parasitic plant found in northern coastal California, northern inner coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, central coastal, and southern coastal regions in various habitats including fields, roadsides, and on other herbs at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers in compact head- to raceme-like clusters with 6 to 25 individual flowers. Growing as a thin, threadlike parasitic vine that lacks chlorophyll and wraps around host plants, it attaches to and derives nutrients from other vegetation. Its flowers are small, approximately 2.1 to 3.6 millimeters long, with a cup-shaped calyx and bell-shaped corolla featuring delicate, fringed scales. The fruit is spheric and slightly flattened, translucent, and contains four small seeds approximately 1.1 to 1.5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinctive large fringed scales diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally on herbs, many crops, roadsides, fields
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Butte, San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Inyo, San Bernardino, Tulare, Humboldt, Marin, Riverside, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Orange, Merced, Alameda, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Madera, Kern, Yolo, San Mateo, Stanislaus, San Benito, Imperial, Napa, Glenn, Tehama, Solano, Lake, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Del Norte, Kings, Yuba, Plumas, Sutter, Calaveras, Monterey
Outside California: worldwide
Bloom period
Cuscuta campestris blooms May-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Cassytha: Cassytha has green color visible on close inspection; Cuscuta is pure orange/yellow with no green.; vs Funastrum: Funastrum has leaves and grows from the ground; Cuscuta is leafless and grows on other plants.; vs Eriogonum: Eriogonum grows from soil with visible leaves; Cuscuta wraps around other plants with no leaves.; vs Epilobium: Epilobium has green leaves and stands upright; Cuscuta is leafless orange strings on host plants.; vs Brandegea: Brandegea has tendrils and leaves; Cuscuta has no leaves, just orange thread-like stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cuscuta campestris native to California?
Yes. Cuscuta campestris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cuscuta campestris bloom?
Cuscuta campestris blooms May-Nov.
Where in California does Cuscuta campestris grow?
Cuscuta campestris occurs in Butte, San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Inyo, San Bernardino, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Cuscuta campestris belong to?
Cuscuta campestris is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Cuscuta.
What habitat does Cuscuta campestris grow in?
Cuscuta campestris grows in Generally on herbs, many crops, roadsides, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.