Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by subsp. vividior by smaller included white flowers.
Divaricate navarretia is a California native annual found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada coastal ranges, and Great Basin in open, gravelly, often volcanic areas at elevations of 100 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces white flowers with yellow throats and pink lobe tips in compact clusters. Growing with slender, branching stems, it forms loose, intricate clusters across gravelly ground. Its narrow leaves are divided into fine, needle-like segments that spread in a distinctive, open pattern. The flower bracts are 5 to 10 millimeters long, with tips generally smooth and unhairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; distinguished from subsp. vividior by smaller included white flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, gravelly, often volcanic areas
Elevation: 100-2600 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Shasta, Tulare, Yuba, Calaveras, Nevada, Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Modoc, Placer, Plumas, Butte, Tehama, Sierra, Lake, San Diego, Fresno, Mono, Mendocino, Mariposa, Glenn, Humboldt, Trinity, Madera
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata blooms Jun-Aug.
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 subsp. divaricata native to California?
Yes. Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata bloom?
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata grow?
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata occurs in Tuolumne, Shasta, Tulare, Yuba, Calaveras, Nevada, Alpine, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 100-2600 m.
What plant family does Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata belong to?
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata grow in?
Navarretia divaricata subsp. divaricata grows in Open, gravelly, often volcanic 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.