Dianthus nudiflorus
Velezia
(c) Edmundas Greimas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Dianthus nudiflorus (Velezia) is a non-native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by repeatedly 2-forked rigid branches and solitary axillary flowers.
Velezia is a naturalized annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area in oak woodlands, open ridges, and gravelly streambeds at elevations of 100 to 800 meters. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces pink to purple flowers with delicate petals 11 to 16 millimeters long. Growing 7 to 40 centimeters tall with widely spreading to erect branches that are repeatedly two-forked and rigid, it has a distinctive glandular-hairy appearance. Its linear to awl-shaped leaves are 5 to 20 millimeters long, with three veins and ciliate margins that are scarious near the base. The distinctive calyx is 1 to 1.4 centimeters long with 15 prominent ribs and a swollen, hardened base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 3 species; key features are repeatedly 2-forked rigid branches and solitary axillary flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak woodland, open ridges, gravelly streambeds, serpentine
Elevation: 100-800 m
California counties: Fresno, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Butte, Glenn, El Dorado, Humboldt, Calaveras, Colusa, Mariposa, Placer, Sacramento, Tehama, Napa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Lake
Outside California: native to southern Europe
Bloom period
Dianthus nudiflorus blooms Spring-early summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Rosa: Dianthus has tubular flowers with 5 petals and green bracts; Rosa has flat flowers with many petals and compound leaves.; vs Pelargonium: Dianthus has radially symmetric tubular flowers; Pelargonium has bilaterally symmetric flowers in umbrella-like clusters.; vs Phlox: Dianthus has tubular flowers with green bracts at base; Phlox has flat-faced flowers without bracts and opposite leaves.; vs Clarkia: Dianthus has tubular flowers with many-veined tubes; Clarkia has 4-petaled flowers with inferior ovaries.; vs Portulaca: Dianthus has tubular flowers with green bracts; Portulaca has flat flowers and succulent leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dianthus nudiflorus native to California?
No. Dianthus nudiflorus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Dianthus nudiflorus bloom?
Dianthus nudiflorus blooms Spring-early summer.
Where in California does Dianthus nudiflorus grow?
Dianthus nudiflorus occurs in Fresno, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Butte, Glenn, El Dorado, Humboldt, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of 100-800 m.
What plant family does Dianthus nudiflorus belong to?
Dianthus nudiflorus is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Dianthus.
What habitat does Dianthus nudiflorus grow in?
Dianthus nudiflorus grows in Oak woodland, open ridges, gravelly streambeds, serpentine.
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.