Navarretia heterandra
Tehama navarretia, Tehama Navarretia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Navarretia heterandra (Tehama navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by red bract tips and purple-spotted throat distinctive.
Tehama navarretia is a California native annual herb found in northern California bioregions including the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sacramento Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, and South Coast Ranges in vernal pools and wet flats at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces white flowers with distinctive purple-spotted throats and occasional blue-tipped corolla lobes. Growing 3 to 11 centimeters tall with ascending branches covered in white, recurved hairs, it develops a spreading habit with intricate branching. Its 2-pinnately lobed leaves feature linear axes with narrow, spreading linear or needle-like lobes, creating a finely textured appearance. The flower bracts have spreading tips often colored a striking red, adding visual interest to this diminutive vernal pool specialist.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species; red bract tips and purple-spotted throat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Heavy soil, vernal pools, wet or drying flats
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: Butte, Tehama, Shasta, Solano, Modoc, Yuba, Sutter, Napa, El Dorado, Lake, Siskiyou, Colusa, Glenn, Amador, Yolo, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Trinity, Sacramento, Sonoma
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Navarretia heterandra blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 heterandra native to California?
Yes. Navarretia heterandra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia heterandra bloom?
Navarretia heterandra blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Navarretia heterandra grow?
Navarretia heterandra occurs in Butte, Tehama, Shasta, Solano, Modoc, Yuba, Sutter, Napa and other counties, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Navarretia heterandra belong to?
Navarretia heterandra is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
Is Navarretia heterandra rare or endangered?
Navarretia heterandra carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, 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.