Navarretia propinqua

Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: annual · Native

Navarretia propinqua is a California native annual found in northern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, and vernal pools at elevations of 800 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces white to light blue flowers in compact, mounding clusters with needle-like bracts extending beyond the blooms. Growing with spreading branches 3 to 10 centimeters tall and generally wider than high, it forms dense white-hairy clusters that spread across wet ground. Its leaves are intricately divided into fine, needle-like lobes that spread outward, creating a delicate, lacy appearance with branches covered in reflexed white hairs. The fruit develops in translucent chambers that open when moistened, revealing dark brown, pitted seeds.

Habitat: Open, seasonally wet areas, meadows, disturbed sites, vernal pools

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 800-2500 m

Bioregions: NCoRH, CaR, SNH, PR, MP

California counties: Lassen, San Diego, Modoc, Placer, Yuba, Butte, Plumas, Sierra, Mono

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.