Navarretia tagetina
Marigold navarretia, Marigold Navarretia
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Navarretia tagetina (Marigold navarretia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by needle-like leaf segments and exserted stamens.
Marigold navarretia is a California native annual found in northwestern California, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and Peninsular Ranges in open, grassy flats and vernal pools at elevations of 10 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale blue flowers with three-veined lobes in delicate heads accompanied by leaf-like bracts. Growing with erect stems 7 to 30 centimeters tall, it branches primarily above with stems that are recurved-hairy near flower heads and glabrous or slightly puberulent below. Its intricately structured leaves are 2-pinnate-lobed with spreading, needle-like lobes that are hairy near the base. The translucent fruit uniquely dehisces when wetted, revealing the plant's adaptive characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; distinguished by needle-like leaf segments and exserted stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, grassy flats, vernal pools
Elevation: 10-1600 m
California counties: San Diego, Tuolumne, Yuba, Sutter, Butte, Placer, Nevada, Tehama, Humboldt, Amador, Shasta, Mendocino, El Dorado, Napa, Sonoma, Calaveras, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Trinity, Glenn, Modoc, Marin, Siskiyou, Santa Clara, Merced, Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Navarretia tagetina blooms Apr-Jun.
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 tagetina native to California?
Yes. Navarretia tagetina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Navarretia tagetina bloom?
Navarretia tagetina blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Navarretia tagetina grow?
Navarretia tagetina occurs in San Diego, Tuolumne, Yuba, Sutter, Butte, Placer, Nevada, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 10-1600 m.
What plant family does Navarretia tagetina belong to?
Navarretia tagetina is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Navarretia.
What habitat does Navarretia tagetina grow in?
Navarretia tagetina grows in Common. Open, grassy flats, vernal pools.
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.