Diplacus mohavensis

Mojave monkeyflower, Mojave Monkeyflower

Family: Phrymaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Mojave monkeyflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in western-central San Bernardino County in gravelly banks of desert washes at elevations of 600 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces red-purple flowers with white borders on small delicate stems, creating a striking contrast against its desert habitat. Growing low to the ground with cylindric stems just 2 to 10 centimeters tall, it has a compact and understated growth habit. Its narrow elliptic leaves measure 7 to 27 millimeters long and are tinged with a distinctive red-purple coloration. The flower's corolla features a purple-brown base with delicate veins that fade into a white border, making this tiny desert annual a subtle botanical treasure.

Habitat: Gravelly banks of desert washes

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 600-1000 m

Bioregions: DMoj (w-c San Bernardino Co.).

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