Gentianopsis simplex
Hikers' gentian, Hikers' Gentian
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Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gentianopsis simplex (Hikers' gentian) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; geographically isolated in KR, NCoRH, CaRH, SNH, SnBr.
Hikers' gentian is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and San Bernardino Mountains in wet meadows at elevations of 1,200 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate blue to purple flowers with slender petals 17 to 45 millimeters long. Growing with well-separated erect stems 4 to 40 centimeters tall, it emerges from root-sprouts with distinctive sparse growth. Its leaves are uniquely shaped, with lower cauline leaves less than 20 millimeters long and spoon-shaped, while upper cauline leaves are lance-elliptic and obtuse to acute. The plant produces striate-ridged seeds with pointed tips, characteristic of its gentian family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; geographically isolated in KR, NCoRH, CaRH, SNH, SnBr
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows
Elevation: 1200-3400 m
California counties: Butte, Mono, Fresno, Tulare, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Amador, Siskiyou, Madera, Alpine, Tehama, Trinity, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Nevada, Calaveras, Shasta, Humboldt, Placer, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Kern, Modoc, Inyo
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana
Bloom period
Gentianopsis simplex blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Gentiana: Gentianopsis petals have fringed or jagged edges; Gentiana petals are smooth-edged.; vs Brodiaea: Gentianopsis has opposite leaves and grows in wet meadows; Brodiaea has basal grasslike leaves from a corm.; vs Zeltnera: Gentianopsis has large funnel-shaped flowers; Zeltnera has small flat-topped salverform flowers.; vs Centaurium: Gentianopsis has large funnel-shaped flowers; Centaurium has small flat-topped salverform flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gentianopsis simplex native to California?
Yes. Gentianopsis simplex is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gentianopsis simplex bloom?
Gentianopsis simplex blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Gentianopsis simplex grow?
Gentianopsis simplex occurs in Butte, Mono, Fresno, Tulare, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Amador, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3400 m.
What plant family does Gentianopsis simplex belong to?
Gentianopsis simplex is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Gentianopsis.
What habitat does Gentianopsis simplex grow in?
Gentianopsis simplex grows in Wet meadows.
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.