Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
Rusty popcornflower, foothill snowdrops, Foothill Snowdrops
(c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (Rusty popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by most widespread; fragrance and basal rosette.
Rusty popcornflower is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province in open woodland and grassland at elevations generally below 1,550 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces small white flowers with yellow appendages in delicate clusters. Growing with reddish, spreading stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall that have a rough, staining texture, it develops as an erect plant with a basal rosette of leaves. Its leaves range from 3 to 10 centimeters long, with a few alternate cauline leaves along the stem. The plant produces three small, round-ovate nutlets approximately 2 millimeters long with narrow ridges and a distinctive scar near the middle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 51 sympatric species - most widespread; fragrance and basal rosette help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common; open woodland, grassland
Elevation: generally < 1550 m
California counties: Humboldt, Los Angeles, Kern, Santa Clara, Placer, Riverside, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Lake, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Tulare, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, Monterey, Sonoma, San Diego, Orange, Trinity, Sacramento, Tuolumne, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Calaveras, San Benito, Ventura, Marin, Siskiyou, Merced, Butte, Solano, Madera, Colusa, Yolo, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, San Mateo, Alameda, Tehama, Shasta, Sutter, Amador, Nevada, Inyo, Yuba
Outside California: to Washington, Mexico
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus blooms Mar-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 nothofulvus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys nothofulvus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys nothofulvus bloom?
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys nothofulvus grow?
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus occurs in Humboldt, Los Angeles, Kern, Santa Clara, Placer, Riverside, El Dorado, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of generally < 1550 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys nothofulvus belong to?
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys nothofulvus grow in?
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus grows in Common; open woodland, grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys parishii — Parish's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys reticulatus — Tracy's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. reticulatus — Reticulate popcorn flower
- Plagiobothrys reticulatus var. rossianorum — Fort ross popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys salsus — Desert popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys scriptus — Scridgee'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.