Mertensia oblongifolia

Sagebrush bluebell, Sagebrush Bluebell

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Sagebrush bluebell is a California native perennial found in the sagebrush and mountain regions at elevations typically associated with montane and subalpine zones. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces blue to purple flowers in compact, panicle-like clusters with delicate, trumpet-shaped blooms 10 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with multiple sturdy stems emerging from a thick, fleshy taproot, it reaches heights generally less than 40 centimeters tall and forms dense clumps. Its leaves are distinctive, with basal leaves well-developed and cauline leaves 2.5 to 7 times longer than wide, positioned alternately along the stems. The plant's underground structure features a stout, deep taproot that allows it to thrive in potentially harsh, rocky mountain environments.

California counties: Mono, Modoc, El Dorado, Lassen, Alpine, Tulare, Siskiyou

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