Downingia yina
Cascade calicoflower
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Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Downingia yina (Cascade calicoflower) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by possibly in CA but not documented.
Cascade calicoflower is a California native annual found possibly in the northern California Range in boggy places near lakes, ponds, vernal pools, and mountain meadows at elevations of 1,200 to 1,510 meters. Flowering from July to August, this delicate plant produces blue flowers with a striking lower lip featuring a central white area with yellow spots and purple spots near the throat. Growing with slender stems typically 20 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant has a delicate, spreading growth habit. Its flowers feature three upper sepals slightly larger than the lower two, with a corolla 5 to 9 millimeters long and distinctive coloration. The fruit develops to approximately 20 to 25 millimeters long with thin, easily fractured lateral walls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; possibly in CA but not documented
Habitat and range
Habitat: Boggy places near lakes, ponds, vernal pools, mountain meadows
Elevation: 1200-1510 m
California counties: Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lake, Sacramento
Outside California: southern Oregon (Cascade Range)
Bloom period
Downingia yina blooms Jul-Aug.
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 yina native to California?
Yes. Downingia yina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Downingia yina bloom?
Downingia yina blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Downingia yina grow?
Downingia yina occurs in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lake, Sacramento, at elevations of 1200-1510 m.
What plant family does Downingia yina belong to?
Downingia yina is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Downingia.
What habitat does Downingia yina grow in?
Downingia yina grows in Boggy places near lakes, ponds, vernal pools, mountain meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Downingia bacigalupii — Bach's calicoflower
- Downingia bella — Hoover's calicoflower
- Downingia bicornuta — Bristled downingia
- Downingia bicornuta var. bicornuta — Bristled downingia
- Downingia bicornuta var. picta — Doublehorn calicoflower
- Downingia concolor — Maroonspot calicoflower
- Eastwoodiella californica — Swamp harebell
- Eastwoodiella sp. — Harebell
- Githopsis diffusa — San Gabriel bluecup
- Githopsis diffusa subsp. candida
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.