Navarretia sinistra
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia sinistra is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by unique in having flowers not in heads.
Navarretia sinistra is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in openings within sagebrush scrub, chaparral, and forest at elevations of 50 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright pink flowers with red-streaked throats, delicate and small, approximately 4 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 5 to 50 centimeters tall that are densely glandular and typically have a single primary axis with ascending branches, it has a distinctive upright form. Its leaves are spreading, linear or narrowly lanceolate, with upper leaves often featuring a palmate structure of 2 to 5 lobes where the middle lobe is notably wider and longer. The plant's fruits are small, dehiscing from the tip and remaining at or below the length of the calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; unique in having flowers not in heads
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in sagebrush scrub, chaparral, forest
Elevation: 50-2700 m
California counties: Mendocino, San Bernardino, Humboldt, Nevada, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Placer, Plumas, Alpine, Trinity, Shasta, Amador, Sierra
Outside California: to Washington, Colorado
Bloom period
Navarretia sinistra 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 sinistra native to California?
Yes. Navarretia sinistra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia sinistra bloom?
Navarretia sinistra blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Navarretia sinistra grow?
Navarretia sinistra occurs in Mendocino, San Bernardino, Humboldt, Nevada, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 50-2700 m.
What plant family does Navarretia sinistra belong to?
Navarretia sinistra is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia sinistra grow in?
Navarretia sinistra grows in Openings in sagebrush scrub, chaparral, forest.
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.