Cuscuta suaveolens
Fringed dodder
Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Cuscuta suaveolens (Fringed dodder) is a native California vine in the Convolvulaceae family, recognized by long pedicels, long styles, and tall fringed scales diagnostic.
Fringed dodder is a naturalized parasitic plant found in the San Joaquin Valley (now extirpated) on herbs, crops, roadsides, and fields at elevations of 25 to 300 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers in compact, umbel-like clusters with 5 to 18 individual flowers. Growing as a delicate, thread-like parasitic plant that twines around host plants, it lacks typical roots and leaves. Its distinctive flowers are tiny, about 3 to 5 millimeters long, with densely fringed scales that nearly match the corolla tube length and triangular ovate lobes. The fruit is spherical, approximately 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide, partially surrounded by the persistent corolla.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; long pedicels, long styles, and tall fringed scales diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally on herbs, crops, roadsides, fields
Elevation: 25-300 m
Outside California: Alabama, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Europe, native to South America
Bloom period
Cuscuta suaveolens blooms Jul-Oct.
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 suaveolens native to California?
Yes. Cuscuta suaveolens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cuscuta suaveolens bloom?
Cuscuta suaveolens blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Cuscuta suaveolens belong to?
Cuscuta suaveolens is in the Convolvulaceae family, genus Cuscuta.
What habitat does Cuscuta suaveolens grow in?
Cuscuta suaveolens grows in Generally on herbs, crops, roadsides, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.