Leptosiphon bicolor
True babystars
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosiphon bicolor (True babystars) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by single flower opening pattern and small lobes <4mm diagnostic.
True babystars is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern Channel Islands, and western Transverse Ranges in open, grassy areas, chaparral, and woodland at elevations generally below 1,700 meters. Flowering from March to June, this delicate plant produces pink, white, or pale yellow flowers with red-pink thread-like tubes and yellow throats, typically opening late morning and closing by early evening. Growing with slender, hairy stems 2 to 21 centimeters tall, the plant forms compact clusters in grassland environments. Its leaves are divided into narrow, obovate to linear lobes 3 to 13 millimeters long, creating a delicate, finely textured appearance. The flowers feature exserted stamens and small stigmas, giving the plant its distinctive, intricate floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; single flower opening pattern and small lobes <4mm diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, grassy areas, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: generally < 1700 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Kern, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Butte, Calaveras, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, Napa, Sonoma, Madera, Tulare, Amador, San Benito, Alameda, Colusa, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Marin, Lake, Siskiyou, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Plumas, Glenn, Placer, Shasta, El Dorado, Mono, Merced, Tehama, Yuba, Contra Costa, Nevada, Del Norte, San Mateo, Ventura, Solano, Riverside, Sutter, Yolo, Stanislaus
Bloom period
Leptosiphon bicolor blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Linanthus: Leptosiphon flowers open in daytime on stalks >2mm; Linanthus flowers often open at dusk/night on very short stalks.; vs Phlox: Leptosiphon leaves are deeply divided into fingers; Phlox leaves are completely undivided.; vs Navarretia: Leptosiphon has soft, flexible leaf lobes; Navarretia has rigid, spine-tipped leaf lobes and bracts.; vs Gilia: Leptosiphon has opposite palmately-lobed leaves; Gilia has alternate pinnately-lobed leaves.; vs Sabulina: Leptosiphon has tubular 5-petaled flowers and lobed leaves; Sabulina has 5 separate petals and needle-like leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leptosiphon bicolor native to California?
Yes. Leptosiphon bicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosiphon bicolor bloom?
Leptosiphon bicolor blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Leptosiphon bicolor grow?
Leptosiphon bicolor occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Kern, Santa Barbara, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of generally < 1700 m.
What plant family does Leptosiphon bicolor belong to?
Leptosiphon bicolor is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Leptosiphon.
What habitat does Leptosiphon bicolor grow in?
Leptosiphon bicolor grows in Common. Open, grassy areas, chaparral, woodland.
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.