Navarretia filicaulis
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia filicaulis is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by slender branching and bright purple exserted flowers distinctive.
Navarretia filicaulis is a California native annual found in the northern California Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and northern Mountain Provinces in open areas, chaparral, and woodland habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from June to July, this delicate plant produces bright purple flowers with thread-like corollas and tiny narrowly ovate lobes. Growing with slender, glandular-puberulent stems 7 to 18 centimeters tall, it has ascending branches along the stem. Its leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters long with 1-pinnate lobing near the base, featuring narrow, tapered axis and 2 to 6 terminal lobes. The fruit develops as a 2 to 4-valved structure that dehisces from tip to base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; slender branching and bright purple exserted flowers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas, chaparral, woodland, gravel, clay
Elevation: 300-1200 m
California counties: Butte, El Dorado, Yuba, Placer, Mariposa, Tehama, Tuolumne, Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, Shasta
Bloom period
Navarretia filicaulis blooms Jun-Jul.
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 filicaulis native to California?
Yes. Navarretia filicaulis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia filicaulis bloom?
Navarretia filicaulis blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Navarretia filicaulis grow?
Navarretia filicaulis occurs in Butte, El Dorado, Yuba, Placer, Mariposa, Tehama, Tuolumne, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 300-1200 m.
What plant family does Navarretia filicaulis belong to?
Navarretia filicaulis is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia filicaulis grow in?
Navarretia filicaulis grows in Open areas, chaparral, woodland, gravel, clay.
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.