Navarretia cotulifolia
Cotula navarretia, Cotula Navarretia
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Navarretia cotulifolia (Cotula navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by distinctive 4-merous flowers and low elevation habitat.
Cotula navarretia is a native annual found in the North Coast Ranges, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and South Coast Ranges in heavy soil habitats at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale yellow flowers with thread-like tubes and four lobes, typically 8 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 3 to 31 centimeters tall, it has glandular-hairy branches that ascend from the base or above. Its distinctive leaves are 2-pinnate-lobed with extremely narrow linear lobes less than 0.5 millimeters wide, clustered and ascending from a hairy base. The plant typically features forked pinnate-lobed bracts and hairy calyces with four strap-shaped lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; distinctive 4-merous flowers and low elevation habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Heavy soils
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Sonoma, Lake, Yolo, Solano, Napa, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, San Benito, Marin, Sutter, Alameda, Santa Clara, Butte
Bloom period
Navarretia cotulifolia blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Leptosiphon: Navarretia has spiny, thistle-like flower heads; Leptosiphon has open flower clusters without spines.; vs Gilia: Navarretia has very short glandular hairs; Gilia has white cobwebby or bent hairs.; vs Eriastrum: Navarretia flower heads are spiny but not woolly; Eriastrum heads are densely woolly-white.; vs Saltugilia: Wet the seeds - Navarretia seeds become gelatinous; Saltugilia seeds stay dry.; vs Eryngium: Navarretia has tubular flowers in heads; Eryngium has tiny separate flowers and divided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Navarretia cotulifolia native to California?
Yes. Navarretia cotulifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia cotulifolia bloom?
Navarretia cotulifolia blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Navarretia cotulifolia grow?
Navarretia cotulifolia occurs in Sonoma, Lake, Yolo, Solano, Napa, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Navarretia cotulifolia belong to?
Navarretia cotulifolia is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
Is Navarretia cotulifolia rare or endangered?
Navarretia cotulifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.