Horkelia californica var. californica
California horkelia
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkelia californica var. californica (California horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by large leaflets, low elevation coastal habitat, and red-mottled sepals.
California horkelia is a native perennial found in the Northern California Coast and Central California Coast bioregions in grassy openings and coastal scrub, especially on northern slopes, at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces delicate white to pale pink flowers in small clusters with red-mottled sepals. Growing with erect stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms dense clumps with finely divided foliage. Its compound leaves feature 4 to 9 leaflets on each side, each leaflet 10 to 40 millimeters long, with deeply toothed and slightly lobed edges. The plant's intricate leaf structure and delicate flowering pattern make it a distinctive component of coastal grassland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are large leaflets, low elevation coastal habitat, and red-mottled sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy openings, edges of coastal scrub, especially northern slopes
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Santa Cruz, Monterey
Bloom period
Horkelia californica var. californica blooms Mar-Sep.
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 var. californica native to California?
Yes. Horkelia californica var. californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia californica var. californica bloom?
Horkelia californica var. californica blooms Mar-Sep.
Where in California does Horkelia californica var. californica grow?
Horkelia californica var. californica occurs in Humboldt, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Santa Cruz, Monterey, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Horkelia californica var. californica belong to?
Horkelia californica var. californica is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
What habitat does Horkelia californica var. californica grow in?
Horkelia californica var. californica grows in Grassy openings, edges of coastal scrub, especially northern slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Horkelia cuneata var. cuneata — Wedge leaved 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.