Leptosiphon croceus
Coast yellow leptosiphon
(c) 2009 Genevieve K. Walden, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Leptosiphon croceus (Coast yellow leptosiphon) is a native California annual in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by restricted coastal bluff habitat and bright yellow corolla diagnostic.
Coast yellow leptosiphon is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern central coastal areas including Montara in San Mateo County, in open, grassy coastal bluffs at near sea level. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with distinctive red spots at the base of each delicate, rounded petal. Growing with much-branched stems 2 to 7 centimeters tall and short internodes, it forms compact, intricate clusters in its coastal habitat. Its leaves have 4 to 7 millimeter lobes that are narrowly obovate, slightly thickened, with a rounded middle lobe. The delicate plant has a salverform yellow to reddish flower tube reaching 26 to 39 millimeters long, with yellow-orange throats and bright yellow petals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; restricted coastal bluff habitat and bright yellow corolla diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Local, open, grassy areas, coastal bluffs
Elevation: +- 0 m.
California counties: San Mateo
Bloom period
Leptosiphon croceus blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 croceus native to California?
Yes. Leptosiphon croceus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosiphon croceus bloom?
Leptosiphon croceus blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Leptosiphon croceus grow?
Leptosiphon croceus occurs in San Mateo, at elevations of +- 0 m..
What plant family does Leptosiphon croceus belong to?
Leptosiphon croceus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Leptosiphon.
Is Leptosiphon croceus rare or endangered?
Leptosiphon croceus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.