Erythranthe shevockii
Kelso creek monkeyflower, Kelso Creek Monkeyflower
(c) Justin Paulin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Paulin · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Erythranthe shevockii (Kelso creek monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by distinctive bicolored corolla.
Kelso creek monkeyflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern Sierra Nevada, and western edge of the Mojave Desert in Cortez and Cyrus canyons, Kern County, growing on alluvial fans and dry streamlets with granitic soils at elevations of 900 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces maroon-purple and yellow flowers with intricate coloration, the upper lip deep maroon-purple and the lower lip yellow with maroon dots at the base. Growing as a diminutive plant 2 to 12 centimeters tall with minutely puberulent stems, it has a delicate and compact form. Its leaves are small, 3 to 10 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate with margins rolled under and bases clasping the stem. The tiny flowers emerge from pedicels 10 to 22 millimeters long, with calyxes marked by reddish spots and rounded lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; distinctive bicolored corolla is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alluvial fans, dry streamlets, generally granitic soils
Elevation: 900-1300 m
Bloom period
Erythranthe shevockii blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
Frequently asked questions
Is Erythranthe shevockii native to California?
Yes. Erythranthe shevockii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erythranthe shevockii bloom?
Erythranthe shevockii blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Erythranthe shevockii belong to?
Erythranthe shevockii is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Erythranthe.
Is Erythranthe shevockii rare or endangered?
Erythranthe shevockii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Erythranthe shevockii grow in?
Erythranthe shevockii grows in Alluvial fans, dry streamlets, generally granitic soils.
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.