Frasera tubulosa
Kern frasera
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Frasera tubulosa (Kern frasera) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by bell-shaped flowers, leaf curvature, and unique nectary structures.
Kern frasera is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in open pine woodland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers with darker blue veins, bell-shaped and approximately 1.3 centimeters long. Growing 0.6 to 1.1 meters tall with a single stem, it features distinctive white-margined leaves that curve downward near their tips. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 2 to 9 centimeters long and 3 to 10 millimeters wide, with mucronate tips, while cauline leaves are arranged in whorls with linear-oblong shapes. The plant has an elongate inflorescence with pedicels 2 to 25 millimeters long, creating a continuous flowering display above the foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are bell-shaped flowers, leaf curvature, and unique nectary structures
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open pine woodland
Elevation: 1800-2700 m
California counties: Kern, Tulare, Inyo
Bloom period
Frasera tubulosa blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 tubulosa native to California?
Yes. Frasera tubulosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Frasera tubulosa bloom?
Frasera tubulosa blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Frasera tubulosa grow?
Frasera tubulosa occurs in Kern, Tulare, Inyo, at elevations of 1800-2700 m.
What plant family does Frasera tubulosa belong to?
Frasera tubulosa is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Frasera.
Is Frasera tubulosa rare or endangered?
Frasera tubulosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Frasera albomarginata var. albomarginata — Desert green-gentian
- Gentiana affinis var. ovata — Oregon gentian
- Gentiana calycosa — Explorers' gentian
- Gentiana fremontii — Fremont's gentian
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.