Plagiobothrys canescens var. catalinensis

Santa catalina popcornflower, Santa Catalina Popcornflower

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: annual · Native

Santa catalina popcornflower is a California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, Channel Islands, and Mojave Desert in grasslands, coastal scrub, and desert scrub at elevations generally below 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white flowers that emerge in delicate clusters. Growing with prostrate to ascending reddish stems that reach variable heights, it has distinctive coloration with red-tinted lower stems and leaf margins. Its leaves feature prominent reddish midveins on the abaxial surface, creating an unusual reddish-tinged appearance. The plant's tiny calyx measures 3 to 5 millimeters long, with lobes that can be erect or occasionally curved over its developing fruit.

Habitat: Uncommon. Grassland, coastal scrub, desert scrub, roadsides

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: generally < 1400 m

Bioregions: SnJV, SCoRI, ChI, DMoj.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.