Pogogyne douglasii
Douglas' beardstyle, Douglas' Beardstyle
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pogogyne douglasii (Douglas' beardstyle) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by robust size and large flower clusters.
Douglas' beardstyle is a California native annual found in northern coastal ranges, northern interior Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, and central western California in vernal pools and swales at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces lavender flowers with yellow spots on the lower lip, arranged in inflorescences 1 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with robust, erect stems up to 45 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive appearance in seasonal wetland habitats. Its flowers feature a calyx tube 2 to 4 millimeters long with upper lobes 2 to 5 millimeters and lower lobes 3 to 8 millimeters, creating an intricate floral structure. The plant's corolla reaches 9 to 20 millimeters long, with a hairy style that extends 2 to 6 millimeters below its stigma lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by robust size and large flower clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, swales
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Mendocino, Mariposa, Sutter, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Colusa, Butte, Solano, Contra Costa, Lake, Tulare, Placer, Napa, Humboldt, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Alameda, Kern, Merced, Santa Barbara, Calaveras, Fresno, Sacramento, Yolo, Stanislaus, Tehama, Glenn, Monterey, San Diego
Bloom period
Pogogyne douglasii blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Navarretia: Pogogyne has square stems and opposite leaves; Navarretia has round stems and alternate leaves.; vs Mentha: Pogogyne is annual in vernal pools; Mentha is perennial in permanently moist sites.; vs Verbena: Pogogyne has square mint stems; Verbena has four-sided but not square stems.; vs Prunella: Pogogyne is annual with bristly bracts; Prunella is perennial with smooth cylindrical spike.; vs Origanum: Pogogyne has narrow linear bracts; Origanum has broad pale overlapping bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pogogyne douglasii native to California?
Yes. Pogogyne douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Pogogyne douglasii bloom?
Pogogyne douglasii blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Pogogyne douglasii grow?
Pogogyne douglasii occurs in Mendocino, Mariposa, Sutter, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Colusa, Butte, Solano and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Pogogyne douglasii belong to?
Pogogyne douglasii is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Pogogyne.
What habitat does Pogogyne douglasii grow in?
Pogogyne douglasii grows in Vernal pools, swales.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.