Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata
San joaquin blazing star
(c) Steve Berardi, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Loasaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata (San joaquin blazing star) is a native California annual in the Loasaceae family, recognized by coppery orange petals vs bright yellow of var. chrysopetala.
San joaquin blazing star is a California native annual herb found in the central Coast Ranges and southwestern Sierra Nevada foothills on slopes with sandy to calcium-rich soils in grassland and oak-juniper woodland at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces distinctive coppery orange flowers with darker orange to red bases, creating dramatic visual displays in its native habitats. Growing with slender stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it forms delicate, open branching structures. Its leaves are deeply lobed with serrated edges, creating a finely textured appearance along the plant's stems. When abundant, the plant can form spectacular mass flowering displays across its sandy grassland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; coppery orange petals vs bright yellow of var. chrysopetala
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes of sandy to gray-white, calcium-rich soils, grassland to oak-juniper woodland, sometimes forming mass displays
Elevation: < 1400 m
Bloom period
Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata blooms Mar-May.
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 pectinata var. pectinata native to California?
Yes. Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata bloom?
Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata belong to?
Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata is in the Loasaceae family, genus Mentzelia.
What habitat does Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata grow in?
Mentzelia pectinata var. pectinata grows in Slopes of sandy to gray-white, calcium-rich soils, grassland to oak-juniper woodland, sometimes forming mass displays.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.