Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor
Photo: parent species Navarretia leptalea · (c) Bruce Homer-Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by smaller flowers and different throat coloration from subsp. leptalea.
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in open rocky areas within forest and meadow habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to September, this delicate plant produces pale yellow flowers with occasional short purple lines near the flower lobes. Growing with slender stems 10 to 25 centimeters tall and with branches that spread moderately, it has a light, airy appearance in mountain landscapes. Its fine, branching stems support small, intricately structured flowers with a yellow throat measuring 8 to 15 millimeters long. The plant's compact form and subtle coloration make it a characteristic wildflower of high-elevation Sierra Nevada mountain ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; smaller flowers and different throat coloration from subsp. leptalea
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open rocky areas in forest, meadows
Elevation: 1500-3100 m
California counties: Nevada, Alpine, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Calaveras, Sierra, Fresno, Mono, Placer, Mariposa, Plumas, Stanislaus, Lassen, Butte, Amador
Bloom period
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor blooms Jun-Sep.
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 leptalea subsp. bicolor native to California?
Yes. Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor bloom?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor grow?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor occurs in Nevada, Alpine, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Calaveras, Sierra, Fresno, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3100 m.
What plant family does Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor belong to?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor grow in?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. bicolor grows in Open rocky areas in forest, meadows.
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.