Plagiobothrys torreyi
High sierra popcornflower, High Sierra Popcornflower
(c) Chris Winchell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Chris Winchell · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plagiobothrys torreyi (High sierra popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by red staining habit and pink flowers.
High sierra popcornflower is a California native annual herb found in alpine and subalpine meadows at elevations above 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small white flowers with pale yellow appendages and a pink-stained corolla limb approximately 1.5 to 3 millimeters in diameter. Growing with decumbent to erect reddish stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall that are stiffly-spreading-hairy, it develops distinctive basal leaves in a rosette and alternate cauline leaves that are ovate to oblong. Its leaves range from 1 to 8 centimeters long, creating a delicate ground-hugging appearance. The fruit consists of small, round-ovate nutlets approximately 1.5 to 2.2 millimeters long, with a grayish surface and subtle ridges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species - red staining habit and pink flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, Lassen, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Calaveras, Placer, Alpine, Madera, Sierra, Santa Cruz
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 torreyi native to California?
Yes. Plagiobothrys torreyi is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Plagiobothrys torreyi grow?
Plagiobothrys torreyi occurs in Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, Lassen, Inyo and other counties.
What plant family does Plagiobothrys torreyi belong to?
Plagiobothrys torreyi is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Plagiobothrys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. diffusus — Torrey's popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. perplexans — Chaparral popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys torreyi var. torreyi — Yosemite popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys trachycarpus — Rough-nutlet popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys uncinatus — Hooked popcornflower
- Plagiobothrys undulatus — Wavy-stemmed 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.