Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens
Valley popcornflower
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens (Valley popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by var. catalinensis by lack of red coloration.
Valley popcornflower is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, northern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Forests, Tehachapi, Central Valley, Central Western California, southwestern California, and western Mojave Desert in grasslands, woodlands, coastal scrub, and desert scrub at elevations generally below 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white flowers in delicate, branching clusters. Growing with prostrate to erect green stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it spreads across the landscape with a soft, sprawling habit. Its leaves have green midveins and margins, creating a subtle, understated texture across the plant's structure. The flower's calyx measures 4 to 6 millimeters long, with lobes that spread or stand upright.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 48 sympatric species; distinguished from var. catalinensis by lack of red coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Grassland, woodland, coastal scrub, desert scrub, roadsides
Elevation: generally < 1400 m
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens blooms Mar-Jun.
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 canescens var. canescens native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens bloom?
Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens belong to?
Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens grow in?
Plagiobothrys canescens var. canescens grows in Common. Grassland, woodland, coastal scrub, desert scrub, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys canescens var. catalinensis — Santa catalina popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys chorisianus — Artist's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys chorisianus var. chorisianus — Choris' popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys chorisianus var. hickmanii — Hickman's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys cognatus — Cognate popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys collinus — Cooper's popcornflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.