Nolina cismontana
Chaparral nolina, Chaparral Nolina
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Family: Ruscaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Nolina cismontana (Chaparral nolina) is a native California shrub in the Ruscaceae family, recognized by (N. parryi); key differences in stem height, scape diameter, habitat preference.
Chaparral nolina is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern coastal, western Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in dry chaparral of coastal mountains at elevations of 200 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers on tall branching inflorescences up to 1.8 meters high. Growing with an erect stem less than 3 meters tall, it forms dense rosettes of 30 to 90 tough, leathery leaves. Its leaves are 12 to 30 millimeters wide, occasionally with a bluish-green cast, with finely toothed margins and a broad base up to 8.5 centimeters wide. The plant produces small red-brown seeds approximately 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (N. parryi); key differences in stem height, scape diameter, habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry chaparral of coastal mountains
Elevation: 200-1300 m
Bloom period
Nolina cismontana blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Hesperoyucca: Nolina leaves are flexible and grass-like; Hesperoyucca leaves are rigid bayonets with sharp spine tips.; vs Yucca: Nolina has narrow flexible leaves and small clustered flowers; Yucca has stiff spine-tipped leaves and large bell flowers.; vs Dasylirion: Nolina leaves have smooth margins; Dasylirion leaves have small teeth along the edges.; vs Dietes: Nolina has tiny cream flowers in dense clusters; Dietes has large white iris flowers with yellow markings.; vs Lomandra: Nolina grows as large shrub clumps; Lomandra forms smaller grass-like tufts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nolina cismontana native to California?
Yes. Nolina cismontana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Nolina cismontana bloom?
Nolina cismontana blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Nolina cismontana belong to?
Nolina cismontana is in the Ruscaceae family, genus Nolina.
Is Nolina cismontana rare or endangered?
Nolina cismontana carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Nolina cismontana grow in?
Nolina cismontana grows in dry chaparral of coastal mountains.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.