Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus
Showy great valley popcornflower, Showy Great Valley Popcornflower
Photo: parent species Plagiobothrys stipitatus · (c) L. Wood, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus (Showy great valley popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Widespread species; stipitate (stalked) nutlets diagnostic.
Showy great valley popcornflower is a California native annual found in the Central Valley, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in vernal pools and wet grassland sites at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white flowers with delicate corollas 5 to 12 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender, branching stems that spread across the ground, it forms low-spreading clusters in seasonal wet habitats. Its small leaves are typically narrow and somewhat hairy, blending into the surrounding grassland vegetation. When conditions are right, these delicate annuals create carpets of tiny white blossoms across vernal pool landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Widespread species; stipitate (stalked) nutlets diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, wet sites in grassland
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Yolo, Sonoma, Sacramento, Napa, Placer, Colusa, Sutter, San Joaquin, Butte, Tehama, Glenn, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Solano, Merced, Alameda, Fresno, Stanislaus, San Benito, Shasta, Santa Cruz
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus 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 stipitatus var. stipitatus native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus bloom?
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus grow?
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus occurs in Yolo, Sonoma, Sacramento, Napa, Placer, Colusa, Sutter, San Joaquin and other counties, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus belong to?
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
What habitat does Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus grow in?
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. stipitatus grows in Vernal pools, wet sites in grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys strictus — Calistoga popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys tenellus — Pacific popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys tener — Slender popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys tener var. subglaber — Serpentine popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys tener var. tener — Slender popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi — High sierra 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.