Linanthus dianthiflorus
Fringed linanthus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Linanthus dianthiflorus (Fringed linanthus) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by fringed petal tips.
Fringed linanthus is a California native annual found in southern California bioregions including the South Coast, Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, southern San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in open habitats at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces light pink flowers with yellow throats and delicate pink or white lobes marked with purple at the base. Growing with erect or spreading stems 5 to 12 centimeters tall and covered in fine hairs, it forms open to dense clusters of blossoms. Its slender leaves are thread-like or linear-oblong, 5 to 20 millimeters long, and entirely glabrous. The tiny fruit is smaller than the hairy calyx, containing 6 to 18 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; fringed petal tips are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Mariposa, Merced
Outside California: to Baja California
Bloom period
Linanthus dianthiflorus blooms Feb-Jun.
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 dianthiflorus native to California?
Yes. Linanthus dianthiflorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linanthus dianthiflorus bloom?
Linanthus dianthiflorus blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Linanthus dianthiflorus grow?
Linanthus dianthiflorus occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Linanthus dianthiflorus belong to?
Linanthus dianthiflorus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
What habitat does Linanthus dianthiflorus grow in?
Linanthus dianthiflorus grows in Openings.
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.