Navarretia intertexta
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia intertexta is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by exceptionally long bracts and exserted anthers distinctive.
Navarretia intertexta is a California native annual found in diverse bioregions including the Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Southwest, and Modoc Plateau in open, seasonally wet areas and vernal pools at elevations below 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to light blue flowers with delicate ovate petals nestled among pinnate-lobed bracts that are longer than the flowers themselves. Growing 8 to 28 centimeters tall with ascending branches covered in reflexed white hairs, it develops an intricate structural form with needle-like leaf lobes spreading at the tips. Its leaves are finely dissected, with 1 to 2 levels of pinnate lobing and sparse white hairs near the base, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. The fruit develops translucent chambers that open when moistened, revealing dark brown, pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 53 sympatric species; exceptionally long bracts and exserted anthers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, vernal pools
Elevation: < 2100 m
California counties: Mendocino, Yuba, San Diego, Riverside, Fresno, Lake, Sutter, Butte, Plumas, Tehama, Modoc, Sacramento, Humboldt, Shasta, Nevada, Lassen, Napa, El Dorado, Trinity, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Siskiyou, Kern, Stanislaus, Solano, Calaveras, Madera, Mariposa, Marin, Placer, Yolo, San Bernardino, Amador, Santa Barbara, Colusa, Santa Clara, Sierra, San Joaquin, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Merced, Ventura, Tulare, Alpine
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California
Bloom period
Navarretia intertexta blooms May-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 intertexta native to California?
Yes. Navarretia intertexta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia intertexta bloom?
Navarretia intertexta blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Navarretia intertexta grow?
Navarretia intertexta occurs in Mendocino, Yuba, San Diego, Riverside, Fresno, Lake, Sutter, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 2100 m.
What plant family does Navarretia intertexta belong to?
Navarretia intertexta is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia intertexta grow in?
Navarretia intertexta grows in Open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, vernal pools.
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.