Rupertia hallii
Hall's rupertia, Hall's Rupertia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Rupertia hallii (Hall's rupertia) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by found only in CaRH bioregion.
Hall's rupertia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the northern California Cascades and Modoc Plateau, specifically in Butte and Tehama counties, in woodland openings at elevations below 2,250 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small flowers with banner petals 11 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems less than one meter tall, it develops a distinctive growth habit with widely spreading leaflets. Its leaves feature large stipules 13 to 15 millimeters long and leaflets 4 to 9 centimeters in length, ranging from lanceolate to widely ovate with glandular surfaces. The fruit is elliptic, 7 to 10 millimeters long, covered in sparse golden glands that fade with age and featuring a short 1 to 3 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species; found only in CaRH bioregion
Habitat and range
Habitat: Woodland openings
Elevation: < 2250 m
California counties: Tehama, Butte
Bloom period
Rupertia hallii blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Hoita: Rupertia flowers are cream-yellow; Hoita flowers are blue-purple.; vs Ptelea: Rupertia has pea flowers and inflated pods; hoptree (Ptelea) has 4-5 petaled flowers and flat winged fruits.; vs Bituminaria: Rupertia has separate bracts; Bituminaria has distinctive united fan-shaped bracts at nodes.; vs Acmispon: Rupertia has dramatically balloon-swollen fruiting calyxes; Acmispon fruits are ovate to oblong, not inflated.; vs Astragalus: Rupertia has cream-yellow flowers and dramatically inflated calyxes; Astragalus typically has purple/white flowers and inflated pods (not calyxes).
Frequently asked questions
Is Rupertia hallii native to California?
Yes. Rupertia hallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rupertia hallii bloom?
Rupertia hallii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Rupertia hallii grow?
Rupertia hallii occurs in Tehama, Butte, at elevations of < 2250 m.
What plant family does Rupertia hallii belong to?
Rupertia hallii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Rupertia.
Is Rupertia hallii rare or endangered?
Rupertia hallii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.