Erythranthe alsinoides
Chickweed monkeyflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erythranthe alsinoides (Chickweed monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by distinctive small size and red-spotted yellow flowers.
Chickweed monkeyflower is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges in moist to wet places and mossy rock crevices at elevations below 860 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with a distinctive large red spot at the base of the lower lip, arranged on slender pedicels 7 to 27 millimeters long. Growing as a delicate plant 0.5 to 15 centimeters tall with softly hairy stems, it forms small, compact clusters. Its leaves are small and rounded to ovate, measuring 3 to 18 millimeters long with petioles 0.5 to 20 millimeters in length. The fruit is 5 to 7 millimeters long, completing the plant's compact and intricate growth pattern.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinctive small size and red-spotted yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to wet places, mossy rock crevices
Elevation: < 860 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Erythranthe alsinoides blooms Mar-Jun.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythranthe alsinoides native to California?
Yes. Erythranthe alsinoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythranthe alsinoides bloom?
Erythranthe alsinoides blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Erythranthe alsinoides belong to?
Erythranthe alsinoides is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Erythranthe.
What habitat does Erythranthe alsinoides grow in?
Erythranthe alsinoides grows in Moist to wet places, mossy rock crevices.
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.