Hackelia californica
California stickseed
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hackelia californica (California stickseed) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by closed throat, white flowers, evenly distributed prickles.
California stickseed is a native perennial found in northern California mountain ranges including the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in meadows and forest openings at elevations of 940 to 2,490 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers that gradually turn brown, with a delicate corolla limb 7 to 14 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall covered in strigose hairs, it develops an open, spreading habit. Its leaves range from 3 to 17 centimeters long, with lower leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate and upper leaves often clasping the stem. The fruit consists of rough nutlets bearing 10 to 25 evenly distributed prickles, which contribute to the plant's distinctive "stickseed" characteristic.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are closed throat, white flowers, evenly distributed prickles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, forest openings
Elevation: 940-2490 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Butte, Modoc, Shasta, Plumas, Trinity, Tehama, Humboldt, Tulare, Lassen, Lake, Nevada, El Dorado
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Hackelia californica blooms Jun-Aug.
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 californica native to California?
Yes. Hackelia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hackelia californica bloom?
Hackelia californica blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Hackelia californica grow?
Hackelia californica occurs in Siskiyou, Butte, Modoc, Shasta, Plumas, Trinity, Tehama, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of 940-2490 m.
What plant family does Hackelia californica belong to?
Hackelia californica is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Hackelia.
What habitat does Hackelia californica grow in?
Hackelia californica grows in Meadows, forest openings.
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.