Mentzelia lindleyi
Lindley's blazing star
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Mentzelia lindleyi (Lindley's blazing star) is a native California herb in the Loasaceae family, recognized by largest flowers in coastal/valley range.
Lindley's blazing star is a California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay, and northern Santa Clara Ridge in rocky coastal-sage scrub and oak/pine woodland at elevations below 1,350 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with orange bases, 20 to 40 millimeters wide, creating a vivid display against open slopes. Growing with erect hairy stems 10 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops a robust and striking presence in its native habitats. Its leaves extend 2 to 17 centimeters long and are generally deeply lobed, providing a textured backdrop to the brilliant flowers. The plant produces elongated fruits 25 to 40 millimeters long that are generally erect or slightly curved, bearing irregularly rounded seeds with intricate surface textures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; largest flowers in coastal/valley range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, open slopes, coastal-sage scrub, oak/pine woodland
Elevation: < 1350 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Merced, Alameda, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Tulare, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Benito, Contra Costa, Solano, Plumas, Mariposa, Monterey, Kern
Bloom period
Mentzelia lindleyi blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Mentzelia has many stamens and 3 stigmas; Camissoniopsis has 8 stamens and 4 stigmas.; vs Leptosiphon: Mentzelia has free petals and many stamens; Leptosiphon has fused petals forming a tube.; vs Emmenanthe: Mentzelia has free petals and 3 stigmas; Emmenanthe has fused bell-shaped petals.; vs Eschscholzia: Mentzelia has many stamens and 3 stigmas; Eschscholzia has many stamens and 4 stigmas.; vs Potentilla: Mentzelia has 3 stigmas and capsule fruit; Potentilla has many pistils and achene fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mentzelia lindleyi native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia lindleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia lindleyi bloom?
Mentzelia lindleyi blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Mentzelia lindleyi grow?
Mentzelia lindleyi occurs in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Merced, Alameda, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1350 m.
What plant family does Mentzelia lindleyi belong to?
Mentzelia lindleyi is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
What habitat does Mentzelia lindleyi grow in?
Mentzelia lindleyi grows in Rocky, open slopes, coastal-sage scrub, oak/pine woodland.
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.