Erythranthe bicolor
Yellow and white monkeyflower
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erythranthe bicolor (Yellow and white monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by distinctive bicolored flowers with deeply two-lobed petals.
Yellow and white monkeyflower is a California native annual found in southeastern Klamath Ranges, southern Cascades, and Sierra Nevada in moist clay soil along drainages at elevations of 360 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white and yellow flowers with a distinctive two-lobed corolla, the upper lip white or yellow and the lower lip yellow. Growing 4 to 27 centimeters tall with densely puberulent stems, it has a delicate, branching form. Its leaves range from 4 to 30 millimeters long, varying from linear to oblanceolate in shape. The fruit is 4 to 8 millimeters long with a slightly corky calyx marked with red dots.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinctive bicolored flowers with deeply two-lobed petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places, generally on clay soils along drainages
Elevation: 360-2100 m
Bloom period
Erythranthe bicolor blooms Apr-Jun.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythranthe bicolor native to California?
Yes. Erythranthe bicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythranthe bicolor bloom?
Erythranthe bicolor blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Erythranthe bicolor belong to?
Erythranthe bicolor is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Erythranthe.
What habitat does Erythranthe bicolor grow in?
Erythranthe bicolor grows in Moist places, generally on clay soils along drainages.
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.