Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea
Photo: parent species Navarretia leptalea · (c) Bruce Homer-Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by large flowers with distinctive purple and yellow throat.
Navarretia leptalea is a California native annual found in the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in open rocky areas within forest and meadow habitats at elevations of 900 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces flowers with yellow tubes and striking purple throats marked by yellow veins, creating a vibrant two-toned appearance. Growing with slender stems 8 to 33 centimeters tall, the plant has a delicate and graceful structure. Its flowers feature a distinctive corolla 13 to 21 millimeters long with lobes approximately two to three times shorter than the flower's throat. The intricate coloration and fine, elongated form make this navarretia a subtle yet captivating wildflower of California's mountain landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; large flowers with distinctive purple and yellow throat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open rocky areas in forest, meadows
Elevation: 900-2100 m
California counties: Lassen, Plumas, Fresno, Calaveras, Nevada, Sierra, Butte, Colusa, Tehama, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Tulare, Alpine, Placer, Shasta, Madera, Riverside, Mariposa, Amador, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Siskiyou
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea blooms Jun-Aug.
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. leptalea native to California?
Yes. Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea bloom?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea grow?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea occurs in Lassen, Plumas, Fresno, Calaveras, Nevada, Sierra, Butte, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 900-2100 m.
What plant family does Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea belong to?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea grow in?
Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea 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.