Parietaria pensylvanica
Pennsylvania pellitory
(c) Jeanne Marie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Urticaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Parietaria pensylvanica (Pennsylvania pellitory) is a native California herb in the Urticaceae family, recognized by leaf venation pattern and shape.
Pennsylvania pellitory is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern inner Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, and San Jacinto Mountains in desert scrub, coastal scrub, chaparral, oak forest, and riparian woodland at elevations of 200 to 730 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces tiny green flowers nestled within dark red-brown calyx lobes. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems, it spreads in delicate, sprawling clusters. Its leaves vary from lanceolate to linear, measuring 10 to 90 millimeters long, with distinctively tapered bases and pointed tips. The small fruit, hidden between calyx lobes, is ovate and reddish-brown, measuring less than 1.5 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key feature is leaf venation pattern and shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub, coastal scrub, chaparral, oak forest, riparian woodland
Elevation: 200-730 m
California counties: Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Colusa, San Bernardino, Trinity, Sonoma, Kern, Ventura
Outside California: to southern Canada, eastern United States, Mexico
Bloom period
Parietaria pensylvanica blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Stellaria: Parietaria has alternate leaves in nettle-family clusters; Stellaria has opposite leaves with chickweed flowers.; vs Mirabilis: Parietaria has tiny nettle flowers in small clusters; Mirabilis has showy trumpet-like flowers.; vs Acalypha: Parietaria has smooth leaf edges; Acalypha has toothed leaves and spike-like flower clusters.; vs Euphorbia: Parietaria has simple flowers in small clusters; Euphorbia has milky sap and unique cyathia.; vs Sairocarpus: Parietaria has tiny green nettle flowers; Sairocarpus has snapdragon-like flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Parietaria pensylvanica native to California?
Yes. Parietaria pensylvanica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Parietaria pensylvanica bloom?
Parietaria pensylvanica blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Parietaria pensylvanica grow?
Parietaria pensylvanica occurs in Inyo, Riverside, San Diego, Colusa, San Bernardino, Trinity, Sonoma, Kern and other counties, at elevations of 200-730 m.
What plant family does Parietaria pensylvanica belong to?
Parietaria pensylvanica is in the Urticaceae family, genus Parietaria.
What habitat does Parietaria pensylvanica grow in?
Parietaria pensylvanica grows in Desert scrub, coastal scrub, chaparral, oak forest, riparian woodland.
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.