Leptosiphon harknessii
Harkness' flaxflower
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Leptosiphon harknessii (Harkness' flaxflower) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by high elevation, tiny flowers generally included in calyx, tube << lobes.
Harkness' flaxflower is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in open flats at elevations of 1,000 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces white to pale blue flowers in small clusters with thread-like pedicels. Growing with slender stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms sparse, delicate branching structures primarily above the base. Its leaves are divided into fine, thread-like lobes 5 to 15 millimeters long, giving the plant an airy, delicate appearance. The small white or pale blue flowers are tightly nestled within the calyx, with stamens extending beyond the petals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; high elevation, tiny flowers generally included in calyx, tube << lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open flats
Elevation: 1000-3200 m
California counties: Lassen, Alpine, Glenn, Tulare, Nevada, Modoc, Tehama, Mono, Madera, Trinity, Shasta, Placer, Plumas, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Fresno, Butte, Sierra, El Dorado, Sonoma, Yuba, Lake, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Mariposa
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Leptosiphon harknessii blooms Jun-Aug.
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 harknessii native to California?
Yes. Leptosiphon harknessii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptosiphon harknessii bloom?
Leptosiphon harknessii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Leptosiphon harknessii grow?
Leptosiphon harknessii occurs in Lassen, Alpine, Glenn, Tulare, Nevada, Modoc, Tehama, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3200 m.
What plant family does Leptosiphon harknessii belong to?
Leptosiphon harknessii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Leptosiphon.
What habitat does Leptosiphon harknessii grow in?
Leptosiphon harknessii grows in Open flats.
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.