Downingia insignis
Harlequin calicoflower
(c) Gabriel Campbell-Martinez, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Gabriel Campbell-Martinez · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Downingia insignis (Harlequin calicoflower) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by prominent dark blue veining on petals.
Harlequin calicoflower is a California native annual found in the Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, and Modoc Plateau in vernal pools, roadside ditches, and lake margins at elevations below 1,650 meters. Flowering from March to May, this delicate plant produces blue and white flowers with intricate markings, featuring a lower lip sky-blue with prominent dark blue veins and a central white area with yellow-green and purple spots. Growing with slender stems typically reaching 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms delicate, branching structures in seasonal wetland environments. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, arranged alternately along the stem, complementing the flower's complex and striking color pattern. The fruit develops 45 to 80 millimeters long with tough lateral walls, containing seeds with distinctive longitudinal lines.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; key feature is prominent dark blue veining on petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, roadside ditches, lake margins
Elevation: < 1650 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Yolo, Colusa, Solano, Lassen, Tehama, Sutter, San Joaquin, Modoc, Glenn, Calaveras, Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Trinity, Sacramento, San Diego
Outside California: southeastern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Downingia insignis 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 insignis native to California?
Yes. Downingia insignis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Downingia insignis bloom?
Downingia insignis blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Downingia insignis grow?
Downingia insignis occurs in Contra Costa, Yolo, Colusa, Solano, Lassen, Tehama, Sutter, San Joaquin and other counties, at elevations of < 1650 m.
What plant family does Downingia insignis belong to?
Downingia insignis is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Downingia.
What habitat does Downingia insignis grow in?
Downingia insignis grows in Vernal pools, roadside ditches, lake margins.
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.