Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by 3 sympatric subspecies; key features are flower number (2-16), dark purple bracts longer than pedicels, and oblong perianth lobes.
Blue dicks is a California native perennial found in open areas across diverse habitats including forests, woodlands, scrub, deserts, and grasslands at elevations up to 2,500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces clusters of blue to purple flowers with distinctive dark purple bracts in compact umbels. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small underground corm that produces multiple daughter cormlets. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically emerging from the base of the plant and withering by flowering time. The flowers feature perianth lobes 7 to 13 millimeters long with truncate bases, creating an intricate and delicate botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric subspecies; key features are flower number (2-16), dark purple bracts longer than pedicels, and oblong perianth lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas in forest, woodland, scrub, desert, grassland, on many soils, including serpentine
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: to Oregon, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Dichelostemma: Dipterostemon has 6 fertile stamens (all with anthers) and 2 broad papery bracts under a tight head; Dichelostemma has only 3 fertile stamens alternating with 3 forked, sterile staminodes.; vs Brodiaea: Dipterostemon crowds its flowers into a dense head on very short pedicels with 6 stamens; Brodiaea has an open umbel of long-pedicelled flowers with 3 stamens plus 3 flat petal-like staminodes.; vs Triteleia: Dipterostemon flowers are packed into a bracted head; Triteleia holds its 6-stamened flowers in an open umbel on spreading pedicels.; vs Bloomeria: Dipterostemon has a fused perianth tube and a congested head; Bloomeria has yellow tepals nearly free to the base in an open, star-like umbel.; vs Allium: Dipterostemon has no onion smell and a dense purple head under leafy bracts; Allium (wild onion) reeks of onion and opens from a papery spathe.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus native to California?
Yes. Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus bloom?
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus blooms Feb-Jun.
What plant family does Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus belong to?
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus is in the Themidaceae family, genus Dipterostemon.
What habitat does Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus grow in?
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus grows in Open areas in forest, woodland, scrub, desert, grassland, on many soils, including serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.