Keckiella ternata var. ternata
Blue stemmed keckiella
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Madeleine Claire · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Keckiella ternata var. ternata (Blue stemmed keckiella) is a native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family.
Blue stemmed keckiella is a California native shrub found in the southern Santa Barbara, southern Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in pinyon and juniper woodland, chaparral, and forest at elevations of 100 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces flowers with pale details in glabrous inflorescences. Growing with branching stems, it develops a shrubby form typical of its woodland and chaparral habitats. Its leaves are arranged in a distinctive ternate pattern, contributing to its structural character. The plant's calyx measures 4.5 to 7.2 millimeters and appears smooth and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key differentiators: whorled leaves, glaucous stems, glabrous inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland, chaparral, forest
Elevation: 100-2100 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Keckiella ternata var. ternata blooms Jun-Sep.
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 ternata var. ternata native to California?
Yes. Keckiella ternata var. ternata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Keckiella ternata var. ternata bloom?
Keckiella ternata var. ternata blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Keckiella ternata var. ternata grow?
Keckiella ternata var. ternata occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, at elevations of 100-2100 m.
What plant family does Keckiella ternata var. ternata belong to?
Keckiella ternata var. ternata is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Keckiella.
What habitat does Keckiella ternata var. ternata grow in?
Keckiella ternata var. ternata grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland, chaparral, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Keckiella antirrhinoides — Chaparral beard tongue
- Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides — Chaparral beard tongue
- Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla — Chaparral beard tongue
- Keckiella breviflora — Bush beardtongue
- Keckiella breviflora var. breviflora — Gaping keckiella
- Keckiella breviflora var. glabrisepala — Hairless gaping keckiella
- Kickxia elatine — Sharp leaved fluellin
- Kickxia sp.
- Kickxia spuria — Fluellin
- Linaria bipartita — Clovenlip toadflax
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.