Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora
Gaping keckiella
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora (Gaping keckiella) is a native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family.
Gaping keckiella is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges, and Sierra Nevada/northeastern Sierra Nevada in rocky slopes, forest, and chaparral at elevations of 200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small flowers with glandular calyxes. Growing with branching stems that form dense clusters, it develops a woody structure typical of chaparral shrubs. Its leaves are likely small and arranged along the stems, supporting the plant's compact growth habit. The shrub's glandular features and adaptation to varied rocky habitats make it a distinctive component of California's diverse plant communities.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species. Key differentiators: flower color/size, glaucous stems, glandular calyx
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, forest, chaparral
Elevation: 200-2000 m
California counties: Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Los Angeles, Monterey, Ventura, Alameda, Butte, El Dorado, Lake, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, San Benito, Sierra, Amador, Sacramento, Alpine, Mariposa, Fresno, Stanislaus, Nevada, Madera, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Keckiella has woody stems that persist year-round; Penstemon is herbaceous and dies back.; vs Epilobium: Keckiella has tubular two-lipped flowers with five stamens; Epilobium has four-petaled open flowers.; vs Tecomaria: Keckiella has small tubular flowers under 1 inch; Tecomaria has large showy orange-red trumpet flowers.; vs Larrea: Keckiella has tubular snapdragon-like flowers; Larrea has small yellow five-petaled flowers and resinous leaves.; vs Salvia: Keckiella has five stamens (one sterile); Salvia has only two fertile stamens and square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora native to California?
Yes. Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora bloom?
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora grow?
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora occurs in Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Los Angeles, Monterey, Ventura, Alameda, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 200-2000 m.
What plant family does Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora belong to?
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Keckiella.
What habitat does Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora grow in?
Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora grows in Rocky slopes, forest, chaparral.
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.