Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by but high elevation habitat and glandular inflorescence.
Epilobium hornemannii is a native perennial herb found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Rocky Hills, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Warner Mountains, and northern White and Inyo Mountains in moist meadows, streambanks, and subalpine ridges at elevations of 1,200 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate pink to rose-purple (occasionally white) flowers with petals 4 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with loosely clumped, ascending stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall, it has short, leafy stolons and is sparsely hairy in distinct lines. Its leaves are lanceolate to ovate, 15 to 55 millimeters long, with minimal hair coverage and ranging from obtuse to acute with petioles up to 8 millimeters long. The fruit is a slender, hairy capsule 40 to 65 millimeters in length, with seeds approximately 1 millimeter long and covered in tiny papillae.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species but high elevation habitat and glandular inflorescence help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows, streambanks, subalpine ridges
Elevation: 1200-3900 m
Outside California: +- circumboreal.
Bloom period
Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Epilobium has 4 notched petals and opposite leaves; Penstemon has 5-lobed tubular flowers (snapdragon family).; vs Gambelia: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Gambelia has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Fuchsia: Epilobium has notched petals spreading flat; Fuchsia has dangling tubular flowers with protruding stamens.; vs Keckiella: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Keckiella has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Diplacus: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Diplacus has 5-lobed tubular monkey flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii native to California?
Yes. Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii bloom?
Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii belong to?
Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
What habitat does Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii grow in?
Epilobium hornemannii subsp. hornemannii grows in Moist meadows, streambanks, subalpine ridges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.