Pedicularis attollens
Little elephant's head, Little Elephant's Head
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pedicularis attollens (Little elephant's head) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by smallest flowers in genus at 4.5-7mm.
Little elephant's head is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, North Coast Ranges, and White and Inyo Mountains in wet meadows, streamsides, and bogs at elevations of 1,200 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces light pink to purple flowers with darker markings, featuring a distinctive curved upper lip that resembles an elephant's trunk. Growing with stems 6 to 60 centimeters tall that are woolly toward the tips, it forms delicate clusters in moist mountain habitats. Its basal leaves are nearly linear, divided into 17 to 41 narrow, toothed segments that create a finely textured green backdrop for the whimsical flowers. The small flowers have a curved upper lip 3.5 to 6 millimeters long with a short beak, giving the plant its charming elephant-like appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; smallest flowers in genus at 4.5-7mm
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, streamsides, bogs
Elevation: 1200-4000 m
California counties: Tulare, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Mono, Butte, Fresno, Inyo, Mariposa, Trinity, Plumas, Madera, El Dorado, Tehama, Alpine, Sierra, Modoc, Placer, Nevada, Lassen, Shasta, Amador, Humboldt
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Pedicularis attollens blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Leaves deeply dissected and fern-like with 7+ lobes, not simple or few-lobed.; vs Phacelia: Flowers have closed hood concealing stamens, not open bell/funnel shape.; vs Anigozanthos: Upper lip forms distinctive elephant-head hood, leaves deeply divided fern-like.; vs Melaleuca: Herbaceous perennial with hooded flowers, not woody shrub with brush-like blooms.; vs Achillea: Flowers individually hooded and two-lipped, not tiny in flat-topped clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pedicularis attollens native to California?
Yes. Pedicularis attollens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pedicularis attollens bloom?
Pedicularis attollens blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Pedicularis attollens grow?
Pedicularis attollens occurs in Tulare, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Mono, Butte, Fresno, Inyo, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 1200-4000 m.
What plant family does Pedicularis attollens belong to?
Pedicularis attollens is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Pedicularis.
What habitat does Pedicularis attollens grow in?
Pedicularis attollens grows in Wet meadows, streamsides, bogs.
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.