Navarretia divaricata
Mountain navarretia, Mountain Navarretia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia divaricata (Mountain navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family.
Mountain navarretia is a California native annual found in rocky or open habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers in compact clusters with small lobes less than 2 millimeters long. Growing with erect to spreading stems 1 to 10 centimeters tall, it develops 2 to 5 slender branches that are brown or purple and glandular-hairy. Its leaves are distinctive, with thread-like basal leaves and cauline leaves that have pinnate lobes, each lobe thin and ending in a small point. The plant's intricate branching and fine, hair-like leaf structures make it a subtle yet intriguing wildflower of California's open landscapes.
Habitat and range
California counties: Tulare, Fresno, Nevada, Alpine, Calaveras, Placer, Tehama, Mendocino, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou, Mariposa, Madera, Amador, Lassen, Plumas, Glenn, Sierra, Trinity, Humboldt, Modoc, Santa Barbara, Lake, Napa, San Benito, Inyo, Kings
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 divaricata native to California?
Yes. Navarretia divaricata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Navarretia divaricata grow?
Navarretia divaricata occurs in Tulare, Fresno, Nevada, Alpine, Calaveras, Placer, Tehama, Mendocino and other counties.
What plant family does Navarretia divaricata belong to?
Navarretia divaricata is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
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.