Fumaria capreolata
White ramping fumitory
(c) Karim Haddad, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Papaveraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Fumaria capreolata (White ramping fumitory) is a non-native California herb in the Papaveraceae family, recognized by flower size, color pattern, and fruit shape.
White ramping fumitory is a naturalized annual found in the central Coast Ranges in disturbed places at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white to purple-tinged flowers with distinctive purple or black-red tips, measuring 9 to 14 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 80 centimeters tall with delicate, climbing stems, it has a sprawling habit characteristic of ramping plants. Its finely divided leaves are typical of the fumitory family, with intricate, lacy green foliage. When fruiting, the plant develops compressed, slightly keeled seed pods with recurved pedicels that give the plant additional visual interest.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by flower size, color pattern, and fruit shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Santa Clara, Solano, Humboldt, Yolo
Outside California: Florida, native to Europe
Bloom period
Fumaria capreolata blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Dicentra: Fumaria has lopsided one-spurred flowers; Dicentra has symmetrical two-pouched hearts.; vs Vicia: Fumaria has irregular tubular flowers; Vicia has pea-shaped flowers and tendrils.; vs Chaerophyllum: Fumaria has tubular flowers in clusters; Chaerophyllum has white umbels like parsley.; vs Corydalis: Fumaria has round single-seed nutlets; Corydalis has elongated multi-seed capsules.; vs Erodium: Fumaria has pouched tubular flowers; Erodium has flat 5-petaled flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fumaria capreolata native to California?
No. Fumaria capreolata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Fumaria capreolata bloom?
Fumaria capreolata blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Fumaria capreolata grow?
Fumaria capreolata occurs in San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Fumaria capreolata belong to?
Fumaria capreolata is in the Papaveraceae family, genus Fumaria.
What habitat does Fumaria capreolata grow in?
Fumaria capreolata grows in Disturbed places.
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.