Herissantia crispa
Curly herissantia, Curly Herissantia
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Herissantia crispa (Curly herissantia) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by Range edge species of primarily tropical genus, reaching its northern limit in southern California.
Curly herissantia is a native perennial found in western desert regions of San Diego County in desert scrub habitats at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces flowers with golden-yellow anthers and pale petals 6 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with stems less than one meter tall, it develops slender branches that become reduced toward the top of the plant. Its leaves are blade-shaped, generally 1 to 7 centimeters long and approximately twice the length of the petiole, becoming smaller toward the stem's upper portions. The distinctive fruit is a spherical, inflated structure 10 to 20 millimeters in diameter, with papery segments that are silvery-shiny inside and short-bristly to the touch.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Range edge species of primarily tropical genus, reaching its northern limit in southern California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, tropics
Bloom period
Herissantia crispa blooms Aug-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Modiola: Herissantia has inflated papery fruits; Modiola has solid two-chambered fruits and salmon-orange (not white) flowers.; vs Iliamna: Herissantia has inflated smooth fruits; Iliamna has bristly fuzzy fruits that split open completely.; vs Sphaeralcea: Herissantia fruits are inflated balloons; Sphaeralcea fruits are solid with distinctive net-veined lower portions.; vs Abutilon: Herissantia has inflated papery fruits and trailing stems; Abutilon has firm woody fruits and upright stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Herissantia crispa native to California?
Yes. Herissantia crispa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Herissantia crispa bloom?
Herissantia crispa blooms Aug-Sep.
What plant family does Herissantia crispa belong to?
Herissantia crispa is in the Malvaceae family, genus Herissantia.
Is Herissantia crispa rare or endangered?
Herissantia crispa carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Herissantia crispa grow in?
Herissantia crispa grows in Desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.