Plagiobothrys arizonicus
Arizona popcornflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys arizonicus (Arizona popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by red coloration that stains.
Arizona popcornflower is a California native annual herb found in eastern northern Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, White and Inyo Mountains, and desert regions at elevations below 2,100 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small white flowers with pale yellow appendages approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops reddish stems with rough, sharp, spreading hairs. Its basal leaves form a rosette up to 5 centimeters long, with cauline leaves alternating along the stem and featuring dark red midveins and margins. The fruit consists of two nutlets about 2 millimeters long with wide-ovate shapes and distinctive ridged surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; diagnostic red coloration that stains
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Dry, coarse soils in deserts, scrub, woodland
Elevation: < 2100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Kings, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Fresno, Ventura, Orange, Mono, Mariposa, Imperial, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Santa Barbara, Tehama
Outside California: to New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys arizonicus blooms Feb-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Cryptantha: Seeds have a raised ridge down the inner face, not a groove like Cryptantha.; vs Pectocarya: Seeds lack the comb-like marginal barbs of Pectocarya; attachment scar is raised.; vs Myosotis: Flowers are smaller and more tubular; Myosotis has wider, flatter blue flowers with yellow centers.; vs Nemophila: Nemophila has much larger, showier blue-white flowers and broader leaves.; vs Leptosiphon: Leptosiphon has needle-like divided leaves; Plagiobothrys has simple narrow leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plagiobothrys arizonicus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys arizonicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys arizonicus bloom?
Plagiobothrys arizonicus blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys arizonicus grow?
Plagiobothrys arizonicus occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Kings, Inyo, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 2100 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys arizonicus belong to?
Plagiobothrys arizonicus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys arizonicus grow in?
Plagiobothrys arizonicus grows in Common. Dry, coarse soils in deserts, scrub, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys austiniae — Austin's spiny-nut popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys bracteatus — Bracted popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys canescens — Grey popcorn flower
- Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens — Valley popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys canescens var. catalinensis — Santa catalina popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys chorisianus — Artist's popcornflower
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.