Navarretia rosulata
Marin county navarretia, Marin County Navarretia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Navarretia rosulata (Marin county navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by skunk-like odor and wide ovate bracts.
Marin county navarretia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior (Napa County) and northern San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County) in rocky, serpentine areas at elevations of 200 to 600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces lavender to white flowers with narrow throats and small, narrowly oblong lobes. Growing with erect stems 6 to 13 centimeters tall that have ascending branches and a distinctive skunk-like odor, it develops glandular-puberulent surfaces. Its leaves vary from lower pinnate-lobed with linear segments to upper leaves with wider bases and ovate-acuminate tips. The plant forms distinctive floral bracts 7 to 8 millimeters long with a widely ovate axis.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; distinguished by skunk-like odor and wide ovate bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, serpentine areas
Elevation: 200-600 m
California counties: Marin, Napa
Bloom period
Navarretia rosulata blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 rosulata native to California?
Yes. Navarretia rosulata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia rosulata bloom?
Navarretia rosulata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Navarretia rosulata grow?
Navarretia rosulata occurs in Marin, Napa, at elevations of 200-600 m.
What plant family does Navarretia rosulata belong to?
Navarretia rosulata is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
Is Navarretia rosulata rare or endangered?
Navarretia rosulata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.