Mertensia cusickii

Toiyabe bluebells

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Toiyabe bluebells is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Warner Mountains in streamsides, dry drainage-bottoms, wooded slopes, and drying meadows at elevations around 2,650 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces light blue to lavender flowers with a tubular corolla 10 to 16 millimeters long, featuring a distinctive ring of hairs inside the base. Growing 30 to 50 centimeters tall with a branched taprooted caudex and sparse-spreading stems, it forms clustered growth with somewhat sparse hairs. Its leaves vary from large petioled basal leaves to smaller sessile cauline leaves that are noticeably veiny, with lower leaves being larger and more prominent. The plant develops an open or somewhat dense panicle-like inflorescence, creating a delicate and airy appearance in its mountain habitats.

Habitat: Streamsides, dry drainage-bottoms, wooded slopes, drying meadows

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: +- 2650 m.

Bioregions: Wrn

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.