Navarretia paradoxiclara
Patterson's navarretia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Navarretia paradoxiclara (Patterson's navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Patterson's navarretia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothill regions of Calaveras and Tuolumne counties in open, seasonally wet meadows and serpentine soils at elevations of 150 to 450 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale blue to white flowers with ovate lobes 1.25 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Growing with erect, narrow stems 8 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant has white-hairy branches with hairs generally reflexed. Its leaves are 1 to 2-pinnate-lobed with needle-like axis and lobes, with spreading lobes at the leaf tip. The fruits are translucent below the middle and uniquely dehisce when wetted, containing dark brown, pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, serpentine soils
Elevation: 150-450 m
Bloom period
Navarretia paradoxiclara blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 paradoxiclara native to California?
Yes. Navarretia paradoxiclara is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia paradoxiclara bloom?
Navarretia paradoxiclara blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Navarretia paradoxiclara belong to?
Navarretia paradoxiclara is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
Is Navarretia paradoxiclara rare or endangered?
Navarretia paradoxiclara carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Navarretia paradoxiclara grow in?
Navarretia paradoxiclara grows in Open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, serpentine soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.