Diplacus clevelandii
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Diplacus clevelandii (Cleveland's bush monkeyflower) is a native California subshrub in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by perennial herb vs annuals and shrubs.
Cleveland's bush monkeyflower is a native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas, open woodland borders, and chaparral at elevations of 915 to 1,465 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with a tubular throat 27 to 40 millimeters long. Growing with hairy stems 30 to 95 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive clusters of smaller leaves in the main leaf axils. Its lanceolate leaves measure 20 to 112 millimeters long, with edges generally rolled under and covered in fine hairs. The fruit splits into four parts at the tip and ranges from 8 to 15 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; perennial herb vs annuals and shrubs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, open borders of woodland, chaparral
Elevation: 915-1465 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Diplacus clevelandii blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Erythranthe: Diplacus has a corolla that withers and stays attached and typically grows in dry, rocky places; Erythranthe drops its corolla cleanly and favors wet seeps and streambanks.; vs Mimulus: Diplacus covers the shrubby and small annual western monkeyflowers with ribbed, inflating calyces; Mimulus (in the strict sense) is a fleshy-stemmed perennial with squarish 4-angled stems.; vs Mimetanthe: Diplacus is puberulent to glandular with a distinctly 2-lipped flower; Mimetanthe is densely long-soft-wavy-hairy with tiny yellow flowers and a nearly regular calyx.; vs Collinsia: Diplacus has an open funnel-throated corolla and a 5-ribbed calyx; Collinsia has a sharply 2-lipped flower with the middle lower lobe folded into a keel that hides the stamens.; vs Antirrhinum: Diplacus has an open-throated corolla and free calyx lobes; Antirrhinum (snapdragon) has a closed, pouched throat sealed by a palate and a spurless sac at the base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Diplacus clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Diplacus clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus clevelandii bloom?
Diplacus clevelandii blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Diplacus clevelandii belong to?
Diplacus clevelandii is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
Is Diplacus clevelandii rare or endangered?
Diplacus clevelandii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
What habitat does Diplacus clevelandii grow in?
Diplacus clevelandii grows in Disturbed areas, open borders of woodland, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.