Ravenella exigua
Chaparral harebell
(c) Arvel Hernandez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ravenella exigua (Chaparral harebell) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by largest funnel-shaped corolla and variable leaf shape.
Chaparral harebell is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in eastern San Francisco Bay and northern Santa Cruz Mountains on talus slopes, generally in serpentine soil at elevations of 300 to 1,300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale blue to white flowers in delicate funnel-shaped corollas 7 to 18 millimeters long with spreading tips. Growing with erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall that are sometimes stiff-haired, it has distinctive sessile leaves ranging from obovate at the base to nearly linear at the top. Its leathery leaves are few-toothed and measure 5 to 11 millimeters in length, with a distinctive variation in shape from base to tip. The fruit is an oblong, strongly ribbed structure with pores near its middle, bearing erect sepals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by largest funnel-shaped corolla and variable leaf shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Talus slopes, generally serpentine soil
Elevation: 300-1300 m
California counties: Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Amador, Alameda, Calaveras, San Benito, Fresno, Butte
Bloom period
Ravenella exigua blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
Frequently asked questions
Is Ravenella exigua native to California?
Yes. Ravenella exigua is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ravenella exigua bloom?
Ravenella exigua blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ravenella exigua grow?
Ravenella exigua occurs in Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Amador, Alameda, Calaveras, San Benito, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 300-1300 m.
What plant family does Ravenella exigua belong to?
Ravenella exigua is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Ravenella.
Is Ravenella exigua rare or endangered?
Ravenella exigua carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.