Linanthus demissus
Desert linanthus
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Linanthus demissus (Desert linanthus) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by bell-shaped flowers and red petal marks distinguish it.
Desert linanthus is a California native annual found in the Mojave and eastern Sonoran Deserts, particularly in the northeastern desert corner, growing in limestone soils and desert pavement at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white flowers with distinctive red marks at the base of the corolla, creating a subtle two-tone effect. Growing with decumbent stems 2 to 10 centimeters tall and covered in fine hairs, it forms low, spreading clusters across arid landscapes. Its leaves are divided into slender lobes 6 to 10 millimeters long, which may be hairy or smooth. The tiny white flowers feature a bell-shaped corolla with a 1 to 2 millimeter tube and white lobes that open to reveal a light yellow throat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; bell-shaped flowers and red petal marks distinguish it
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone soils, desert pavement, sandy areas
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Orange
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Linanthus demissus blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Phlox: Linanthus has alternate leaves; Phlox has opposite leaves paired along the stem.; vs Leptosiphon: Linanthus has rigid, sharp leaf tips and nocturnal flowers; Leptosiphon has soft leaf tips and day-blooming flowers.; vs Gilia: Linanthus has wheel-shaped flowers with lobes longer than tube; Gilia has narrow funnel flowers with tube longer than lobes.; vs Coleonema: Linanthus has palm-divided leaves and phlox flowers; Coleonema has needle-like leaves and 5-petaled star flowers.; vs Navarretia: Linanthus has open wheel flowers and non-spiny leaves; Navarretia has tiny tube flowers hidden in spiny bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linanthus demissus native to California?
Yes. Linanthus demissus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linanthus demissus bloom?
Linanthus demissus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Linanthus demissus grow?
Linanthus demissus occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Orange, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Linanthus demissus belong to?
Linanthus demissus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
What habitat does Linanthus demissus grow in?
Linanthus demissus grows in Limestone soils, desert pavement, sandy areas.
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.