Limnanthes douglasii subsp. douglasii

Family: Limnanthaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Douglas' meadowfoam is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern coastal, coastal, and San Francisco Bay Area regions in wet meadows at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces striking yellow flowers with white-tipped petals that have a distinctive cup or bell-shaped form. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with delicate, spreading stems, it forms low, sprawling patches across moist landscapes. Its leaves are composed of ovate leaflets that can be entire or irregularly toothed, creating a soft, intricate green texture. The fruit develops distinctive mericarps with ridge-like tubercles, adding to the plant's unique botanical character.

Habitat: Wet meadows

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 700 m

Bioregions: NCo, NCoRO, CCo, SnFrB

California counties: San Mateo, Mendocino, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Solano, Monterey, Fresno, Santa Clara, Napa, San Benito, Humboldt, Lake, Butte, Calaveras, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare, Merced, Contra Costa, Alameda, Glenn

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.