Hackelia mundula
Pink-flowered stickseed
(c) My-Lan Le, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by My-Lan Le · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hackelia mundula (Pink-flowered stickseed) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by pink flowers, shiny smooth nutlets.
Pink-flowered stickseed is a California native perennial found in eastern and central Klamath Ranges near Castle Crags and the Sierra Nevada Highlands on dry open slopes, forest openings, and roadsides at elevations of 1,650 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces distinctive pink flowers that gradually turn bluish, with a delicate limb 10 to 18 millimeters in diameter. Growing with stems 40 to 80 centimeters tall covered in long, soft-spreading hairs, it has a distinctive branching form. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, measuring 6 to 22 centimeters long and 0.5 to 2.8 centimeters wide, with upper leaves progressively smaller and often clasping the stem. The fruit consists of shiny nutlets 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters long, covered in evenly distributed prickles that give the plant its "stickseed" common name.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are pink flowers, shiny smooth nutlets
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry open slopes, forest openings, roadsides
Elevation: 1650-2900 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Mono, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa, Alpine, Siskiyou, Kern, Inyo, Mendocino, Trinity
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Hackelia mundula blooms May-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 mundula native to California?
Yes. Hackelia mundula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hackelia mundula bloom?
Hackelia mundula blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Hackelia mundula grow?
Hackelia mundula occurs in Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Mono, Tuolumne, Madera, Mariposa, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 1650-2900 m.
What plant family does Hackelia mundula belong to?
Hackelia mundula is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Hackelia.
What habitat does Hackelia mundula grow in?
Hackelia mundula grows in dry open slopes, forest openings, roadsides.
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.