Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens
Rough-stemmed popcornflower, Rough-Stemmed Popcornflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens (Rough-stemmed popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by coarse rough hairs, small flowers (~2mm), higher elevation.
Rough-stemmed popcornflower is a California native annual found in southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and western Colorado Desert in dry, gravelly places, coastal scrub, chaparral, and conifer forest openings at elevations of 300 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white flowers with corolla limbs approximately 2 millimeters in diameter. Growing with somewhat prostrate stems 10 to 40 centimeters long covered in coarse, rough hairs, it develops an elongate inflorescence that extends beyond its leaves. Its leaves are lanceolate, 1 to 3 centimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. The fruit consists of smooth nutlets 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; coarse rough hairs, small flowers (~2mm), higher elevation
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry +- gravelly places, openings in chaparral, coastal scrub, conifer forest, occasionally coastal scrub
Elevation: generally 300-1800+ m
California counties: Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterey, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Fresno, San Benito, Alameda, Del Norte
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico, Chile
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens 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 collinus var. fulvescens native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens bloom?
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens grow?
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens occurs in Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterey, San Bernardino, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of generally 300-1800+ m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens belong to?
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens grow in?
Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens grows in dry +- gravelly places, openings in chaparral, coastal scrub, conifer forest, occasionally coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys collinus var. gracilis — San diego popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys collinus var. ursinus — Bear valley popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys cusickii — Cusick's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys diffusus — San francisco popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys distantiflorus — Madera popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys fulvus var. campestris — Field 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.