Dichondra occidentalis

Western dichondra

Family: Convolvulaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Western dichondra is a California native perennial found in southern California Coast Ranges, coastal southern California, Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in coastal scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland at elevations below 520 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small red to purple flowers approximately 3 to 3.5 millimeters long. Growing with soft, dense white to pale brown hairs across most of its structure, it spreads in low-growing patches. Its rounded leaves are 12 to 20 millimeters long and 20 to 30 millimeters wide, typically smooth and generally glabrous with petioles 2.5 to 6 centimeters long. In coastal habitats, this delicate perennial often nestles discreetly among rocks and shrubs.

Habitat: Among rocks, shrubs, in coastal scrub, chaparral, oak woodland

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 520 m

Bioregions: s CCo, SCo, ChI, PR

California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Sonoma, San Bernardino

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