Erythranthe purpurea
Little purple monkeyflower
(c) Diego Maldonado de la Torre, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Erythranthe purpurea (Little purple monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by distinctive bicolored flowers and tiny size.
Little purple monkeyflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the San Bernardino Mountains along small streams on open, gentle slopes at elevations of 1,900 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces red-purple and rose flowers with a delicate two-lipped corolla approximately 8 to 10 millimeters wide. Growing as a tiny plant 0.5 to 7 centimeters tall with fine puberulent (soft hairy) stems, it forms compact clusters in moist streamside environments. Its leaves are small, 3 to 16 millimeters long, and range from elliptic to ovate in shape. The fruit is 4 to 7 millimeters long, complementing the plant's diminutive stature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; distinctive bicolored flowers and tiny size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Along small streams on open, gentle slopes
Elevation: 1900-2300 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Erythranthe purpurea blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythranthe purpurea native to California?
Yes. Erythranthe purpurea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythranthe purpurea bloom?
Erythranthe purpurea blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Erythranthe purpurea belong to?
Erythranthe purpurea is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Erythranthe.
Is Erythranthe purpurea rare or endangered?
Erythranthe purpurea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Erythranthe purpurea grow in?
Erythranthe purpurea grows in Along small streams on open, gentle slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.