Pholistoma racemosum
Racemed fiestaflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pholistoma racemosum (Racemed fiestaflower) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat restriction and flower size key.
Racemed fiestaflower is a California native annual found in southern California coastal regions, Channel Islands, and Peninsular Ranges in moist shaded areas, hillsides, ravines, and coastal scrub at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces delicate white to blue flowers in small clusters 5 to 15 millimeters wide. Growing with stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops narrow-winged leaf petioles that clasp the stem. Its lower leaves are ovate to nearly triangular, 3 to 10 centimeters long, with 5 to 9 obtuse or acute lobes that are either entire or slightly toothed. The fruit is enclosed in the calyx and measures 5 to 8 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; coastal habitat restriction and flower size key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist shaded, areas, hillsides, ravines, ocean bluffs, coastal scrub
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Monterey, Ventura, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Pholistoma racemosum blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Phacelia: Pholistoma has bristly fruits and long stamens protruding from flowers; Phacelia has smooth capsules and included stamens.; vs Nemophila: Pholistoma fruits are covered in stiff rough bristles; Nemophila fruits are soft and velvety.; vs Eucrypta: Pholistoma has bristly fruits and long protruding stamens; Eucrypta has smooth fruits and tiny included stamens.; vs Solanum: Pholistoma has protruding stamens from tubular flowers; Solanum has stamens forming a yellow cone in star-shaped flowers.; vs Brandegea: Pholistoma has regular 5-petaled flowers; Brandegea has separate male/female flowers with tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pholistoma racemosum native to California?
Yes. Pholistoma racemosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pholistoma racemosum bloom?
Pholistoma racemosum blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Pholistoma racemosum grow?
Pholistoma racemosum occurs in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Monterey, Ventura, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Pholistoma racemosum belong to?
Pholistoma racemosum is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Pholistoma.
What habitat does Pholistoma racemosum grow in?
Pholistoma racemosum grows in Moist shaded, areas, hillsides, ravines, ocean bluffs, coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Pholistoma sp.
- Pholistoma auritum — Blue fiestaflower
- Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum — Arizona pholistoma
- Pholistoma auritum var. auritum — Fiesta flower
- Pholistoma membranaceum — White fiesta flower
- Romanzoffia californica — California mistmaiden
- Romanzoffia sitchensis — Sitka mistmaid
- Romanzoffia sp.
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.