Cuscuta pacifica var. pacifica

Dodder

Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Dodder is a California native perennial found in coastal regions including northern, central, and southern California in coastal habitats near sea level. Flowering from July to October, this parasitic plant produces small, delicate flowers with subtle cream or white coloration. Growing as a thin, thread-like vine that lacks chlorophyll and wraps around host plants, it attaches itself directly to other vegetation for nutrition. Its stems are slender, pale yellow to orange, and completely lack typical leaf structures, instead developing specialized haustorial connections to extract nutrients from host plants. This unique parasitic species demonstrates an extraordinary adaptation for survival by completely depending on other plants for its growth and sustenance.

Habitat: Generally on

Bloom period: Jul-Oct

Elevation: +- 0 m.

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SCo

California counties: San Diego, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.