Hackelia bella
Beautiful stickseed, Beautiful Stickseed
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hackelia bella (Beautiful stickseed) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by white flowers aging brown and long pedicels.
Beautiful stickseed is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in forest openings, ridgetops, and streambanks at elevations of 1,200 to 2,030 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers that age to a soft brown, with a corolla limb 12 to 19 millimeters in diameter. Growing with spreading-hairy stems 50 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive branching habit with several open inflorescence branches. Its leaves are notably varied, with large basal leaves up to 26 centimeters long and narrow-elliptic shape, transitioning to smaller lance-shaped upper leaves that partially clasp the stem. The fruit consists of small nutlets with approximately 10 abaxial prickles, characteristic of the stickseed genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are white flowers aging brown and long pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Openings in forest, ridgetops, roadsides, streambanks
Elevation: 1200-2030 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Tehama, Shasta, Mendocino, Lassen
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Hackelia bella blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Myosotis: Hackelia has downward-curved fruit stalks and barbed seeds; Myosotis has smooth seeds.; vs Adelinia: Hackelia fruit stalks curve downward; Adelinia stalks remain upright or spreading.; vs Cynoglossum: Hackelia seeds sit in shallow cups; Cynoglossum seeds are deeply embedded in dense burrs.; vs Phlox: Hackelia has barbed seeds and coiled clusters; Phlox has capsules and open flower arrangements.; vs Mertensia: Hackelia has flat-faced flowers and barbed seeds; Mertensia has bell-shaped flowers and smooth seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hackelia bella native to California?
Yes. Hackelia bella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hackelia bella bloom?
Hackelia bella blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Hackelia bella grow?
Hackelia bella occurs in Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Tehama, Shasta, Mendocino, Lassen, at elevations of 1200-2030 m.
What plant family does Hackelia bella belong to?
Hackelia bella is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Hackelia.
What habitat does Hackelia bella grow in?
Hackelia bella grows in Uncommon. Openings in forest, ridgetops, roadsides, streambanks.
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.