Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata
Desert green-gentian
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata (Desert green-gentian) is a native California perennial in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by glabrous inflorescence and nectary pit shape.
Desert green-gentian is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the desert mountains in dry, open woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to greenish-white flowers with distinctive glabrous calyx lobes and nectary pits with two-lobed tips. Growing with erect stems to approximately 1 meter tall, it develops a robust, upright habit with multiple branching inflorescences. Its leaves are arranged in whorls along the stem, with lower leaves typically larger and broader than the progressively smaller upper leaves. The plant's delicate flower structure and precise nectary formation make it a distinctive species of dry montane woodland environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key features are glabrous inflorescence and nectary pit shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open woodland
Elevation: 1500-2200 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Colorado
Bloom period
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Swertia: Frasera has one nectar pit per petal; Swertia has two.; vs Chorizanthe: Frasera has four-petaled gentian flowers; spineflower has six perianth parts.; vs Nerium: Frasera is herbaceous; oleander is woody with milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata native to California?
Yes. Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata bloom?
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata grow?
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1500-2200 m.
What plant family does Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata belong to?
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
Is Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata rare or endangered?
Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
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 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.