Diplacus vandenbergensis
Vandenberg monkeyflower
(c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Casey H. Richart · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Diplacus vandenbergensis (Vandenberg monkeyflower) is a native California annual in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by yellow flowers with red-brown spots and coastal habitat.
Vandenberg monkeyflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Santa Barbara County in open, sandy sites among shrubs at elevations of 75 to 120 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive red-brown spots near the flower mouth, blooming individually at each node. Growing with delicate stems 1 to 20 centimeters tall, it has a compact, low-growing habit among coastal shrublands. Its leaves range from 2 to 30 millimeters long, generally narrowly elliptic to obovate, with lower leaves smooth and upper leaves slightly hairy. The flowers feature a tube-throat 9 to 23 millimeters long with yellow folds and a calyx that is widely ribbed and often tinged with reddish coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinguished by yellow flowers with red-brown spots and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy sites among shrubs
Elevation: 75-120 m
Bloom period
Diplacus vandenbergensis blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 vandenbergensis native to California?
Yes. Diplacus vandenbergensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus vandenbergensis bloom?
Diplacus vandenbergensis blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Diplacus vandenbergensis belong to?
Diplacus vandenbergensis is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
Is Diplacus vandenbergensis rare or endangered?
Diplacus vandenbergensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Diplacus vandenbergensis grow in?
Diplacus vandenbergensis grows in Open, sandy sites among shrubs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Diplacus viscidus — Viscid monkeyflower
- Diplacus angustatus — Purplelip pansy monkeyflower
- Diplacus aridus — Low bush monkeyflower
- Diplacus aurantiacus — Orange bush monkeyflower
- Diplacus australis
- Diplacus bicolor — Harlequin monkeyflower
- Erythranthe acutidens — Kings river monkeyflower
- Erythranthe alsinoides — Chickweed monkeyflower
- Erythranthe androsacea — Rock-jasmine monkeyflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.