Lobelia dunnii var. serrata
Dunn's lobelia
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Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata (Dunn's lobelia) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by blue flowers vs red, decumbent habit vs erect, cliff/seep habitat vs streams.
Dunn's lobelia is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains (Mariposa County), southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges on cliff seeps and falls at elevations of 30 to 1,850 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces distinctive blue flowers with hairy corollas, forming tubes 12 to 19 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent light green stems 20 to 85 centimeters long and less than 4 millimeters in diameter, it spreads via underground rhizomes. Its stems feature delicate blue flowers with a unique anther tube that has triangular bristles at the tips of two shorter anthers. The plant forms a long-lived perennial herb with a spreading growth habit characteristic of moist cliff environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by blue flowers vs red, decumbent habit vs erect, cliff/seep habitat vs streams
Habitat and range
Habitat: Falls, seeps of cliffs
Elevation: 30-1850 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange, Riverside, Mariposa
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata blooms Jul-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Lobelia has spherical seed pods; Penstemon has elongated capsules that split lengthwise.; vs Cuphea: Lobelia flowers have 5 petals in irregular shape; Cuphea has tubular flowers with 6 petals.; vs Salvia: Lobelia has spherical capsules; Salvia has 4 small nutlets at flower base.; vs Keckiella: Lobelia has spherical seed pods; Keckiella has flattened capsules.; vs Viola: Lobelia has tubular two-lipped flowers; Viola has 5-petaled flowers with a distinct lower spur.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lobelia dunnii var. serrata native to California?
Yes. Lobelia dunnii var. serrata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lobelia dunnii var. serrata bloom?
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Lobelia dunnii var. serrata grow?
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of 30-1850 m.
What plant family does Lobelia dunnii var. serrata belong to?
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Lobelia.
What habitat does Lobelia dunnii var. serrata grow in?
Lobelia dunnii var. serrata grows in Falls, seeps of cliffs.
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.