Nama californica
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Family: Namaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Nama californica is a native California herb in the Namaceae family, recognized by distinctive small bowl-shaped corolla.
California nama is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and western edge of the Mojave Desert in dry, sandy areas at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small, delicate bowl-shaped clusters. Growing with prostrate stems 3 to 10 centimeters long that fork and spread across the ground, it has fine, puberulent hairs with swollen bases. Its leaves are generally sessile, oblanceolate or spoon-shaped, measuring 5 to 14 millimeters long and 1 to 4 millimeters wide. The fruit is small, about 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, containing up to 4 tiny, cross-ridged seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species, distinctive small bowl-shaped corolla
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy areas
Elevation: 500-2500 m
Bloom period
Nama californica blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Diplacus: Nama has purple to blue tubular flowers with unequal stamens; Diplacus has 2-lipped snapdragon-like flowers often yellow or orange.; vs Phacelia: Nama has stamens at different heights in the flower tube; Phacelia has all stamens attached at the same level.; vs Gilia: Nama is a low mat-forming plant with small purple flowers; Gilia is typically more upright with flowers in round heads.; vs Calibrachoa: Nama has small tubular flowers in clusters; Calibrachoa has large showy petunia-like flowers with wide flaring petals.; vs Erodium: Nama has purple tubular flowers; Erodium has pink 5-petaled flowers and distinctive long beak-like fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nama californica native to California?
Yes. Nama californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nama californica bloom?
Nama californica blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Nama californica belong to?
Nama californica is in the Namaceae family, genus Nama.
What habitat does Nama californica grow in?
Nama californica grows in Dry, sandy areas.
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.