Frasera parryi
Coahuila frasera
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Frasera parryi (Coahuila frasera) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by exceptional size, leaf width, and open inflorescence.
Coahuila frasera is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions, the San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardno Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in dry, open woodland and chaparral at elevations of 100 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces light green flowers with distinctive purple dots, featuring delicate obovate lobes that are short-acuminate. Growing 60 to 160 centimeters tall with one or two glabrous stems, it develops distinctive white-margined leaves that range from strap-shaped to elliptic-oblanceolate. Its basal leaves are particularly notable, measuring 5 to 25 centimeters long and 8 to 40 millimeters wide with acute tips, while cauline leaves are opposite and ovate to lance-oblong. The plant's unique corolla features a low fringed ridge between stamens and a U-shaped nectary pit on each lobe, creating an intricate botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key features are exceptional size, leaf width, and open inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open woodland, chaparral
Elevation: 100-1900 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Frasera parryi blooms Apr-Jul.
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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Frasera parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frasera parryi bloom?
Frasera parryi blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Frasera parryi grow?
Frasera parryi occurs in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, at elevations of 100-1900 m.
What plant family does Frasera parryi belong to?
Frasera parryi is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
What habitat does Frasera parryi grow in?
Frasera parryi grows in Dry, open woodland, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.