Nemophila heterophylla
Canyon nemophila
(c) dloarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dloarie · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Nemophila heterophylla (Canyon nemophila) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by distinctive heterophyllous leaves.
Canyon nemophila is a native annual herb found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, and central western California in forest, chaparral, and streamside habitats at elevations of 30 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from February to June, this delicate plant produces white to pale blue bowl-shaped flowers 3 to 10 millimeters wide with a distinctive shape. Growing with slender stems up to several dozen centimeters tall, it has a delicate, spreading growth habit. Its lower leaves are opposite with 5 to 7 rounded lobes, while upper leaves become alternate and more lance-shaped with fewer or no lobes. Seeds are yellow-brown and produced in small clusters of 2 to 5.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; distinctive heterophyllous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest, chaparral, roadsides, slopes, streambanks, talus
Elevation: 30-1700 m
California counties: Placer, Calaveras, Amador, Tuolumne, Lake, Butte, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Yuba, Mendocino, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Plumas, Sonoma, Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda, Tehama, Nevada, Trinity, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Siskiyou, Sacramento, San Benito, Yolo, Stanislaus, Glenn, Shasta, Monterey, Solano, Colusa, Sierra, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Sutter, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Kern, San Mateo, Los Angeles
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Nemophila heterophylla blooms Feb-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Phacelia: Nemophila has symmetrical bowl-shaped flowers; Phacelia has flowers in one-sided coiled clusters.; vs Pholistoma: Nemophila fruits feel soft and velvety; Pholistoma fruits are covered in stiff, rough bristles.; vs Veronica: Nemophila has 5-petaled flowers and soft fruits; Veronica has 4-petaled flowers and flat heart-shaped capsules.; vs Linum: Nemophila has lobed leaves and 5 stamens; Linum has narrow entire leaves and typically 5 stamens alternate with teeth.; vs Eucrypta: Nemophila has showy flowers 5mm+ wide; Eucrypta has tiny flowers under 4mm in dense branched clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nemophila heterophylla native to California?
Yes. Nemophila heterophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nemophila heterophylla bloom?
Nemophila heterophylla blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Nemophila heterophylla grow?
Nemophila heterophylla occurs in Placer, Calaveras, Amador, Tuolumne, Lake, Butte, Madera, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 30-1700 m.
What plant family does Nemophila heterophylla belong to?
Nemophila heterophylla is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Nemophila.
What habitat does Nemophila heterophylla grow in?
Nemophila heterophylla grows in Forest, chaparral, roadsides, slopes, streambanks, talus.
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.