Navarretia heterodoxa
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia heterodoxa is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by ovate bract bases and skunk odor distinctive.
Navarretia heterodoxa is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, southern North Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area on open, rocky serpentine slopes at elevations of 100 to 900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces purple flowers with narrow oblong lobes approximately 6 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 8 to 24 centimeters tall that are glandular-hairy and emit a skunk-like odor, it branches into ascending stems. Its leaves are pinnate-lobed with thread-like basal lobes and cauline leaves that curve recurved at the tip, featuring an axis wider than the thread-like lobes. The plant's inflorescence is characterized by widely ovate bracts with palmate-like lobes and glandular surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species; ovate bract bases and skunk odor distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky, generally serpentine slopes
Elevation: 100-900 m
California counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, San Diego, Trinity
Bloom period
Navarretia heterodoxa blooms May-Jun.
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 heterodoxa native to California?
Yes. Navarretia heterodoxa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia heterodoxa bloom?
Navarretia heterodoxa blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Navarretia heterodoxa grow?
Navarretia heterodoxa occurs in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, San Diego, Trinity, at elevations of 100-900 m.
What plant family does Navarretia heterodoxa belong to?
Navarretia heterodoxa is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia heterodoxa grow in?
Navarretia heterodoxa grows in Open, rocky, generally serpentine slopes.
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.