Downingia bella
Hoover's calicoflower
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Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Downingia bella (Hoover's calicoflower) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by alternating yellow-purple spots and tough fruits.
Hoover's calicoflower is a California native annual found in the Central Valley, Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside County, and northern Western Transverse Ranges in vernal pools at elevations below 200 meters to 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces blue flowers with a distinctive lower lip featuring a central white area and yellow spots surrounded by alternating purple markings. Growing with slender stems to approximately 20 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms small clusters in seasonal wetland environments. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, typical of vernal pool wildflowers. The fruit develops 18 to 60 millimeters long with tough lateral walls that tardily release seeds with distinct longitudinal lines.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are alternating yellow-purple spots and tough fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Vernal pools
Elevation: < 200 m (GV), 610-655 m (PR), 1400--1600 m (WTR)
California counties: Ventura, Lake, Tulare, Riverside, Solano, Stanislaus, Merced, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Tehama, San Joaquin, Kings, Sierra, Alameda, Sacramento, Kern, San Diego, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Downingia bella blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Porterella: Downingia flowers lack yellow ridges; Porterella has two distinctive yellow ridges on the lower lip.; vs Nemacladus: Downingia has showy blue flowers sitting on stem; Nemacladus has threadlike flowers on long stalks.; vs Legenere: Downingia has blue two-lipped flowers; Legenere has small white flowers with nearly equal petals.; vs Lobelia: Downingia is a vernal pool annual; Lobelia is perennial with spherical seed pods.; vs Howellia: Downingia flowers have no stalk; Howellia has short but visible flower stalks 1-8mm long.
Frequently asked questions
Is Downingia bella native to California?
Yes. Downingia bella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Downingia bella bloom?
Downingia bella blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Downingia bella grow?
Downingia bella occurs in Ventura, Lake, Tulare, Riverside, Solano, Stanislaus, Merced, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m (GV), 610-655 m (PR), 1400--1600 m (WTR).
What plant family does Downingia bella belong to?
Downingia bella is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Downingia.
What habitat does Downingia bella grow in?
Downingia bella grows in Uncommon. Vernal pools.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Downingia bicornuta — Bristled downingia
- Downingia bicornuta var. bicornuta — Bristled downingia
- Downingia bicornuta var. picta — Doublehorn calicoflower
- Downingia concolor — Maroonspot calicoflower
- Downingia concolor var. brevior — Cuyamaca lake downingia
- Downingia concolor var. concolor — Maroonspot calicoflower
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.