Pedicularis groenlandica
Elephant's head
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephant's head) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by unmistakable elephant head flower shape.
Elephant's head is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada Highlands in wet meadows, streamsides, and bogs at elevations of 1,000 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from June to September, this distinctive plant produces light pink to red-purple flowers with a unique shape, resembling an elephant's head with a curved hood and narrow, upward-pointing beak. Growing 8 to 80 centimeters tall with nearly glabrous stems, it forms an upright, elegant structure in wet mountain habitats. Its basal leaves are approximately lanceolate, divided into 25 to 51 linear to oblong segments that are finely toothed, creating a delicate, feathery appearance. The flower's lower lip features distinctive lateral lobes that look remarkably like small ears, giving the plant its whimsical common name.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; unmistakable elephant head flower shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, streamsides, bogs
Elevation: 1000-3600 m
California counties: Mono, Merced, Plumas, Fresno, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer, Madera, Sierra, Modoc, Shasta, Inyo, Kern, Nevada, Alpine, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lassen, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, New Mexico
Bloom period
Pedicularis groenlandica 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 groenlandica native to California?
Yes. Pedicularis groenlandica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pedicularis groenlandica bloom?
Pedicularis groenlandica blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Pedicularis groenlandica grow?
Pedicularis groenlandica occurs in Mono, Merced, Plumas, Fresno, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3600 m.
What plant family does Pedicularis groenlandica belong to?
Pedicularis groenlandica is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Pedicularis.
What habitat does Pedicularis groenlandica grow in?
Pedicularis groenlandica 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.