Plagiobothrys chorisianus var. hickmanii

Hickman's popcornflower

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.2

Hickman's popcornflower is a California native annual ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in central Coast, southwestern San Francisco Bay, and northern South Coast Ranges in moist places, vernal pools, and sandy deposits over clay pans at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this delicate plant produces small white flowers with a corolla limb 5 to 7 millimeters in diameter. Growing with prostrate stems that branch from lower axils, it spreads low across the ground in a distinctive spreading pattern. Its leaves feature a lower pair that are generally free at the base, not closely sheathing the stem. The plant creates intricate, low-growing networks in seasonal wet areas, with its slender stems and tiny white flowers blending subtly into the landscape.

Habitat: Moist places, vernal pools, sandy deposits over clay pans

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: c CCo, sw SnFrB, n SCoRO.

California counties: Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo

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