Nemophila pedunculata
Littlefoot nemophila
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Nemophila pedunculata (Littlefoot nemophila) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by most widespread, small flowers with dark markings.
Littlefoot nemophila is a native annual found in California Floristic Province and Modjeska Plateau bioregions in diverse habitats including grasslands, meadows, ocean bluffs, woodland, and streambanks at elevations up to 2,400 meters. Flowering from February to July, this delicate plant produces white or blue flowers 2 to 5 millimeters wide, often featuring distinctive dark veins or black, blue, and purple dots. Growing with slender stems, the plant typically reaches a low-spreading form with multiple branching stems. Its opposite leaves are notable for having 5 to 9 deep lobes, each blade 5 to 35 millimeters long and ranging from oblong to ovate in shape. Seeds vary in color from black to brown to green, with smooth, wrinkled, or pitted surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; most widespread, small flowers with dark markings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Ocean bluffs, grassland, slopes, meadows, sandbars, fields, woodland, streambanks
Elevation: < 2400 m
California counties: Humboldt, Los Angeles, Lassen, Mendocino, Kern, Butte, San Bernardino, Placer, Ventura, Shasta, Plumas, Glenn, Modoc, Tuolumne, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Tehama, Siskiyou, Lake, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Colusa, Riverside, Madera, Trinity, Fresno, Calaveras, San Joaquin, San Benito, Mariposa, Alpine, Tulare, San Diego, Orange, Sierra, Nevada, Sonoma, Amador, Sutter, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Napa, Alameda, Yolo, San Mateo
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California
Bloom period
Nemophila pedunculata blooms Feb-Jul.
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 pedunculata native to California?
Yes. Nemophila pedunculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nemophila pedunculata bloom?
Nemophila pedunculata blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Nemophila pedunculata grow?
Nemophila pedunculata occurs in Humboldt, Los Angeles, Lassen, Mendocino, Kern, Butte, San Bernardino, Placer and other counties, at elevations of < 2400 m.
What plant family does Nemophila pedunculata belong to?
Nemophila pedunculata is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Nemophila.
What habitat does Nemophila pedunculata grow in?
Nemophila pedunculata grows in Common. Ocean bluffs, grassland, slopes, meadows, sandbars, fields, woodland, streambanks.
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.