Horkelia californica
California horkelia
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkelia californica (California horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family.
California horkelia is a native perennial found in California's coastal ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills in open grasslands and chaparral areas at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers approximately 3 to 8 millimeters long in open clusters with multiple separate blossoms. Growing with erect green stems 10 to 120 centimeters tall in clumped formations, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its compound leaves have widely spaced, slightly hairy leaflets that are roughly ovate to round in shape, with entire stipules connecting each leaflet. The plant produces numerous pistils and tiny fruits approximately 1 millimeter in length, creating dense, intricate flower clusters.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Mateo, Mendocino, Sonoma, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Tulare, Marin, Trinity, San Francisco, Lake, San Benito, Amador, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and white-pink flowers; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and yellow-white flowers.; vs Erodium: Horkelia has pinnate leaves and rose-family flowers; Erodium has lobed/divided leaves and long-beaked fruits.; vs Phacelia: Horkelia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Phacelia has bell-shaped fused corollas with protruding stamens.; vs Potentilla: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Ivesia: Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 separated leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkelia californica native to California?
Yes. Horkelia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Horkelia californica grow?
Horkelia californica occurs in San Mateo, Mendocino, Sonoma, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Tulare, Marin, Trinity and other counties.
What plant family does Horkelia californica belong to?
Horkelia californica is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Horkelia californica var. californica — California horkelia
- Horkelia californica var. elata — California horkelia
- Horkelia californica var. frondosa — California horkelia
- Horkelia clevelandii var. clevelandii — Cleveland's horkelia
- Horkelia congesta var. nemorosa — Josephine horkelia
- Horkelia cuneata — Wedge leaf horkelia
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.