Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis
San jacinto mts. keckiella
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis (San jacinto mts. keckiella) is a native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family.
San jacinto mountains keckiella is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the San Jacinto Mountains in conifer forest and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 2,200 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces flowers with white to green corollas 13 to 15 millimeters long, sparsely covered in long hairs. Growing with upright branches 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops a woody base with green stems that become smooth over time. Its leaves are green, initially slightly hairy but gradually becoming smooth and glabrous as they mature. The shrub forms dense, compact clusters with delicate, elongated flowers characteristic of its mountain woodland habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key differentiators: geographic isolation to San Jacinto Mountains, green glabrous mature leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 2200-2800 m
California counties: Riverside
Bloom period
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 rothrockii var. jacintensis native to California?
Yes. Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis bloom?
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis grow?
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis occurs in Riverside, at elevations of 2200-2800 m.
What plant family does Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis belong to?
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Keckiella.
Is Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis rare or endangered?
Keckiella rothrockii var. jacintensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Keckiella rothrockii var. rothrockii — Rothrock's keckiella
- Keckiella sp. — Bush penstemon
- Keckiella ternata — Blue stemmed keckiella
- Keckiella ternata var. septentrionalis — Northern blue stemmed keckiella
- Keckiella ternata var. ternata — Blue stemmed keckiella
- Keckiella antirrhinoides — Chaparral beard tongue
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.