Frankenia palmeri
Palmer's frankenia
(c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Frankeniaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Frankenia palmeri (Palmer's frankenia) is a native California shrub in the Frankeniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: narrow leaves <1mm wide, tightly rolled margins, densely hairy leaf undersides, shrub habit.
Palmer's frankenia is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native shrub found in southern California coastal regions in alkali flats, coastal marshes, and dunes at elevations below 450 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces delicate white flowers with pink lower petals, small and clustered in the axils of its branches. Growing as a low, prostrate shrub 10 to 30 centimeters tall with scattered hairs, it spreads up to 100 centimeters in diameter. Its tiny leaves are extremely narrow, less than one millimeter wide, with strongly thickened margins tightly rolled under and densely hairy on the undersurface. The plant thrives in saline environments, with its compact, fleshy growth adapted to harsh coastal conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: narrow leaves <1mm wide, tightly rolled margins, densely hairy leaf undersides, shrub habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkali flats, coastal marshes, dunes
Elevation: < 450 m
California counties: San Diego, Colusa, Kings, Los Angeles, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo, San Luis Obispo, Riverside
Outside California: northern Mexico
Bloom period
Frankenia palmeri blooms Apr-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Suaeda: Frankenia has flowers with visible petals; seablite has tiny flowers without petals, only sepals.; vs Batis: Frankenia has individual flowers with petals; saltwort has flowers in cone-like spikes without petals.; vs Eriogonum: Frankenia has fused sepals and 4-7 stamens; buckwheat has papery bracts below flowers and 9 stamens.; vs Atriplex: Frankenia has showy flowers with pink-white petals; saltbush has tiny green flowers without petals.; vs Sesuvium: Frankenia has thin non-succulent leaves; sea purslane has thick succulent leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Frankenia palmeri native to California?
Yes. Frankenia palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frankenia palmeri bloom?
Frankenia palmeri blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Frankenia palmeri grow?
Frankenia palmeri occurs in San Diego, Colusa, Kings, Los Angeles, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 450 m.
What plant family does Frankenia palmeri belong to?
Frankenia palmeri is in the Frankeniaceae family, genus Frankenia.
Is Frankenia palmeri rare or endangered?
Frankenia palmeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
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.