Frasera speciosa
Monument plant
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Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Frasera speciosa (Monument plant) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by exceptional size and double nectary pits.
Monument plant is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California coastal ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, and Warner Mountains in montane meadows and open woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces light yellow-green flowers with distinctive purple dots and streaks, forming elongate inflorescences with large blossoms 12 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 7 to 20 decimeters tall with an erect, glabrous stem, it develops in a single unbranched form. Its basal leaves are large and distinctive, measuring 7 to 50 centimeters long and 1 to 15 centimeters wide, with an oblanceolate to elliptic-obovate shape and rounded to acute tips. The plant's cauline leaves are whorled and lance-oblong, with acute tips that add to its architectural presence in montane habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are exceptional size and double nectary pits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane meadows, open woodland
Elevation: 1500-3000 m
California counties: Mariposa, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mono, Tehama, Trinity, Mendocino, Inyo, Siskiyou, Tulare, Modoc, Alpine, El Dorado, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Amador, Lake
Outside California: to Washington, South Dakota, New Mexico
Bloom period
Frasera speciosa blooms Jul-Aug.
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 speciosa native to California?
Yes. Frasera speciosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frasera speciosa bloom?
Frasera speciosa blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Frasera speciosa grow?
Frasera speciosa occurs in Mariposa, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mono, Tehama, Trinity, Mendocino, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3000 m.
What plant family does Frasera speciosa belong to?
Frasera speciosa is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
What habitat does Frasera speciosa grow in?
Frasera speciosa grows in Montane meadows, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Frasera tubulosa — Kern frasera
- Frasera umpquaensis — Umpqua green-gentian
- Frasera albicaulis — Whitestem frasera
- Frasera albicaulis var. modocensis — Modoc frasera
- Frasera albicaulis var. nitida — Whitestem frasera
- Frasera albomarginata — Desert frasera
- Gentiana affinis var. ovata — Oregon gentian
- Gentiana calycosa — Explorers' gentian
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.