Epilobium pallidum
Largeflower spike primrose
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Epilobium pallidum (Largeflower spike primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by spike inflorescence and seeds without hair-tuft.
Largeflower spike primrose is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, and Modoc Plateau in seasonally moist pond and stream edges at elevations of 60 to 2,050 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces rose-purple flowers 3 to 10 millimeters long in crowded spikes. Growing 0.5 to 6 decimeters tall with stems that peel at the base and are densely spreading-hairy, it develops an upright, slender form. Its leaves are opposite only at the base, narrowly lance-elliptic, 12 to 50 millimeters long, with lower leaves glabrous and upper leaves hairy. The fruit is a 10 to 21 millimeter long capsule that is beaked and somewhat spreading-hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; spike inflorescence and seeds without hair-tuft are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Edges of seasonally moist ponds, streams
Elevation: 60-2050 m
California counties: Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, Modoc, Tehama, Lake, El Dorado, Placer, Lassen, Trinity, Sierra
Outside California: to southwestern Oregon, Idaho
Bloom period
Epilobium pallidum blooms May-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 pallidum native to California?
Yes. Epilobium pallidum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium pallidum bloom?
Epilobium pallidum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Epilobium pallidum grow?
Epilobium pallidum occurs in Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, Modoc, Tehama, Lake, El Dorado, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 60-2050 m.
What plant family does Epilobium pallidum belong to?
Epilobium pallidum is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
What habitat does Epilobium pallidum grow in?
Epilobium pallidum grows in Edges of seasonally moist ponds, streams.
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.