Hackelia nervosa
Sierran stickseed
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hackelia nervosa (Sierran stickseed) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by glabrous upper stems, large flowers, visible anthers.
Sierran stickseed is a California native perennial found in southern Cascade Range and High Sierra Nevada Mountains in moist open slopes and forest openings at elevations of 1,800 to 2,930 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate white to blue flowers with an open throat and blue limb approximately 1.5 to 1.8 centimeters wide. Growing with stems 40 to 70 centimeters tall that are mostly glabrous above and sparsely hairy below, it has an upright, somewhat spreading habit. Its basal leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, 3 to 12 centimeters long and 0.6 to 2.5 centimeters wide, with sparse rough hairs and progressively smaller cauline leaves that become ovate and clasping toward the stem tip. The fruit consists of nutlets 4 to 6 millimeters long, covered in evenly distributed prickles that give the plant its characteristic "stickseed" texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are glabrous upper stems, large flowers, visible anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist open slopes, openings in forest
Elevation: 1800-2930 m
California counties: Placer, Nevada, Alpine, Mariposa, Fresno, Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Mono, Sierra, Tuolumne, Tulare, El Dorado, Amador, Madera, Tehama, Inyo, Trinity, Calaveras
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Hackelia nervosa blooms May-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 nervosa native to California?
Yes. Hackelia nervosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hackelia nervosa bloom?
Hackelia nervosa blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Hackelia nervosa grow?
Hackelia nervosa occurs in Placer, Nevada, Alpine, Mariposa, Fresno, Butte, Plumas, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1800-2930 m.
What plant family does Hackelia nervosa belong to?
Hackelia nervosa is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Hackelia.
What habitat does Hackelia nervosa grow in?
Hackelia nervosa grows in Moist open slopes, openings in forest.
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.