Eryngium jepsonii
Jepson's coyote- thistle
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eryngium jepsonii (Jepson's coyote- thistle) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by leaf shape and sepal spine length diagnostic.
Jepson's coyote-thistle is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior, deltaic Great Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area in moist clay soil at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white to pale blue spherical flower heads 5 to 15 millimeters wide with distinctive spiny bracts. Growing with erect stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall that are few to many-branched, it forms an elegant, glabrous plant with distinctive architectural qualities. Its leaves are narrowly oblanceolate, 10 to 30 centimeters long with serrate and spiny margins that are occasionally crisped or curled. The small fruit is approximately 2 millimeters long with ovate scales that taper to a spiny tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; leaf shape and sepal spine length diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist clay soil
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Yolo, San Mateo, Napa
Bloom period
Eryngium jepsonii blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Navarretia: Eryngium has compact button-like heads; Navarretia has looser clusters with spine-tipped bracts radiating outward.; vs Dipsacus: Eryngium flower heads are round or cylindrical when young; teasel heads are elongated egg-shaped from the start.; vs Cirsium: Eryngium leaves are firm and waxy; thistle leaves are softer with white woolly undersides.; vs Plantago: Eryngium grows in wetlands with spiny bracts under each flower; plantain has ribbed leaves and lacks spiny bracts.; vs Sanicula: Eryngium has a single bract under each flower and a thistle-like appearance; Sanicula lacks individual bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eryngium jepsonii native to California?
Yes. Eryngium jepsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eryngium jepsonii bloom?
Eryngium jepsonii blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Eryngium jepsonii grow?
Eryngium jepsonii occurs in Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Yolo, San Mateo, Napa, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Eryngium jepsonii belong to?
Eryngium jepsonii is in the Apiaceae family, genus Eryngium.
Is Eryngium jepsonii rare or endangered?
Eryngium jepsonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.