Hesperolinon californicum

California dwarf flax

Family: Linaceae · Type: annual · Native

California dwarf flax is a California native annual found in central and northern coastal California regions, including San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco Peninsula, coastal areas, and Sierra Nevada foothills in rocky chaparral, grassland, and occasionally serpentine areas at elevations of 30 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to July, this delicate plant produces white to partly pink flowers with distinctive rose-colored anthers and white stamens. Growing with slender stems 10 to 25 centimeters tall, it develops thread-like to linear alternate leaves with well-developed stipule glands that produce red exudate. Its leaves are characterized by fine, thread-like structures with glandular edges that create visual interest against its subtle floral display. The plant's small flowers feature glabrous sepals with minutely gland-toothed margins, creating a delicate and intricate botanical profile.

Habitat: Rocky areas, chaparral, grassland, occasionally on serpentine

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 30-1300 m

Bioregions: c&amps NCoRI, s CaRF, n SNF, ScV, CCo (around San Francisco Bay), e SnFrB, ne SCoRI.

California counties: Lake, Solano, Placer, Colusa, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Stanislaus, Sutter, Butte, Napa, Sacramento, Tehama, San Joaquin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Yolo, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.