Hoita macrostachya
California hemp
(c) Irina Mitine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hoita macrostachya (California hemp) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by erect habit, hollow stem base, and intermediate flower size.
California hemp is a native perennial found in the California Floristic Province in streamsides, marshes, and spring-moist places at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small flowers in elongated clusters 5 to 15 centimeters long. Growing to nearly 2 meters tall with much-branched, generally striate stems that have a hollow base, it forms an expansive and robust herbaceous presence. Its compound leaves have lanceolate leaflets 2 to 10 centimeters long, which are glandular and may be hairy on both surfaces. The fruit is brown with prominent veins, measuring 6 to 8 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by erect habit, hollow stem base, and intermediate flower size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, marshes, spring-moist places
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Tuolumne, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tulare, Napa, Butte, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Amador, Mariposa, Fresno, Marin, Lake, Solano, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Nevada, Alameda, El Dorado, Yolo, Madera, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Shasta, Placer, Alpine, Yuba, Sacramento, Merced, Colusa
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Hoita macrostachya blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Rupertia: Hoita flowers are blue-purple; Rupertia flowers are cream to yellow.; vs Salvia: Hoita has pea-shaped flowers and compound leaves; Salvia has tubular two-lipped flowers and simple or pinnate leaves.; vs Pueraria: Hoita has glandular dots and grows as erect perennial; kudzu (Pueraria) is a massive climbing vine without glands.; vs Bituminaria: Hoita has separate bracts at flower nodes; Bituminaria has distinctive fan-shaped united bracts.; vs Acmispon: Hoita has flowers in elongated spikes; Acmispon has flowers in umbrella-like umbels.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hoita macrostachya native to California?
Yes. Hoita macrostachya is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hoita macrostachya bloom?
Hoita macrostachya blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Hoita macrostachya grow?
Hoita macrostachya occurs in San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Tuolumne, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Hoita macrostachya belong to?
Hoita macrostachya is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hoita.
What habitat does Hoita macrostachya grow in?
Hoita macrostachya grows in Streamsides, marshes, spring-moist places.
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.