Linanthus jonesii
Jones linanthus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Linanthus jonesii (Jones linanthus) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by white/yellow flowers with purple petal backing.
Jones linanthus is a California native annual found in the southern desert bioregion in sandy flats and washes at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to cream-yellow flowers with light purple shading, opening in the evening with a yellow throat. Growing with glandular-hairy stems 3 to 15 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and compact form. Its linear leaves measure 10 to 20 millimeters long, remaining entire and maintaining a slender profile. The small seeds, numbering 9 to 28, are contained in a fruit shorter than the plant's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; white/yellow flowers with purple petal backing
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats, washes
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Linanthus jonesii 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 jonesii native to California?
Yes. Linanthus jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Linanthus jonesii bloom?
Linanthus jonesii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Linanthus jonesii grow?
Linanthus jonesii occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Linanthus jonesii belong to?
Linanthus jonesii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
What habitat does Linanthus jonesii grow in?
Linanthus jonesii grows in Sandy flats, washes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Linanthus killipii — Baldwin lake linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus — Little san bernardino mountains linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus subsp. emaculatus — Jacumba Mountains linanthus
- Linanthus maculatus subsp. maculatus — Little San Bernardino Mtns. linanthus
- Linanthus orcuttii — Orcutt's linanthus
- Linanthus parryae — Parry's linanthus
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.