Reseda odorata
Garden mignonette
no rights reserved, uploaded by Peter de Lange · CC0
Family: Resedaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Reseda odorata (Garden mignonette) is a non-native California herb in the Resedaceae family, recognized by pendant fruits and irregular white petals are key features.
Garden mignonette is a naturalized annual found in the central and southern California Coast bioregions on disturbed ground at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from February to September, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive asymmetrical petals, some deeply lobed while others are reduced. Growing with glabrous or sparsely hairy stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and upright growth habit. Its leaves range from entire to three-lobed, providing a soft and variable foliage texture. The fruit is generally pendent and divided into three parts, with rough seeds approximately 2 to 2.2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; pendant fruits and irregular white petals are key features
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed ground
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Reseda odorata blooms Feb-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Rumex: Reseda has 4-6 petals per flower in dense spikes; Rumex has no petals, just greenish sepals in whorls.; vs Erigeron: Reseda has spike-like clusters of small individual flowers; Erigeron has composite daisy-like flower heads.; vs Ambrosia: Reseda has small flowers with visible petals; Ambrosia has no petals, just green composite flower heads.; vs Verbascum: Reseda flowers are tiny in dense spikes; Verbascum has large 5-petaled flowers in tall racemes.; vs Oligomeris: Reseda has 4-6 petals and 10-25 stamens; Oligomeris has only 2 petals and 3-4 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reseda odorata native to California?
No. Reseda odorata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Reseda odorata bloom?
Reseda odorata blooms Feb-Sep.
What plant family does Reseda odorata belong to?
Reseda odorata is in the Resedaceae family, genus Reseda.
What habitat does Reseda odorata grow in?
Reseda odorata grows in Disturbed ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.