Hosackia rosea
Rose flowered lotus
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hosackia rosea (Rose flowered lotus) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by striped flowers and leaflet shape diagnostic.
Rose flowered lotus is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, northern California Coast, and northern Sierra Nevada foothills in banks, streamsides, burns, and logged areas at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink flowers in clusters of 6 to 10 blooms, with petals becoming darker with age. Growing with spreading or erect stems 10 to 70 centimeters tall that are glabrous or slightly hairy, it forms a delicate herbaceous structure. Its leaves contain 9 to 15 elliptic leaflets, each 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, arranged with scarious, fragile stipules. The fruit develops as an oblong pod 3 to 5 centimeters long, containing several seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; striped flowers and leaflet shape diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Banks, streamsides, burns, logged areas
Elevation: < 800 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Hosackia rosea blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Acmispon: Hosackia has conspicuous papery or leafy stipules; Acmispon stipules tiny or absent.; vs Lathyrus: Hosackia has umbrella clusters; Lathyrus flowers on stalks with leaves having tendrils.; vs Lotus: Hosackia is native perennial in natural habitats; Lotus is introduced in disturbed sites.; vs Vicia: Hosackia flowers in umbels; Vicia flowers in rows with leaves ending in tendrils.; vs Securigera: Hosackia pods split open straight; Securigera pods break into curved segments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hosackia rosea native to California?
Yes. Hosackia rosea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hosackia rosea bloom?
Hosackia rosea blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Hosackia rosea belong to?
Hosackia rosea is in the Fabaceae family, genus Hosackia.
What habitat does Hosackia rosea grow in?
Hosackia rosea grows in Banks, streamsides, burns, logged areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.