Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa
Woolly meadowfoam, Woolly Meadowfoam
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Limnanthaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa (Woolly meadowfoam) is a native California herb in the Limnanthaceae family, recognized by densely hairy with awl-shaped fruit tubercles.
Woolly meadowfoam is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and Cascade Range in vernal pool edges at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers with bell- to urn-shaped petals 4.5 to 8.5 millimeters long. Growing with dense, hairy herbage, it forms low-spreading plants that cluster around seasonal wetland margins. Its leaves are densely covered in soft hairs, giving the plant a woolly, grayish-green appearance. The fruit develops as one to three small mericarps with awl-shaped tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; densely hairy with awl-shaped fruit tubercles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pool edges
Elevation: < 600 m
California counties: Butte, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Napa, Lake
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Limnanthes has jagged petal tips and entire leaves; Cerastium has deeply notched petals.; vs Layia: Limnanthes has separate 4-5 petals in a simple flower; Layia is a composite with many ray flowers.; vs Sabulina: Limnanthes has pinnately divided fern-like leaves; Sabulina has simple narrow leaves.; vs Nemophila: Limnanthes has 4 petals with jagged tips; Nemophila has 5 petals with smooth edges.; vs Sidalcea: Limnanthes has 4-5 petals and pinnate leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and palmately lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa native to California?
Yes. Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa bloom?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa grow?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa occurs in Butte, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Napa, Lake, at elevations of < 600 m.
What plant family does Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa belong to?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa is in the Limnanthaceae family, genus Limnanthes.
Is Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa rare or endangered?
Limnanthes floccosa subsp. floccosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.