Scabiosa atropurpurea

Mourningbride

Family: Dipsacaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Mourningbride is a naturalized perennial found in northern Coastal Ranges, northern Inner Coast Ranges, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coastal Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from March to November, this plant produces deep purple to dark burgundy flowers in compact heads up to 30 millimeters wide. Growing with erect stems up to 60 centimeters tall, it develops branching growth with multiple flowering stalks. Its cauline leaves are pinnately dissected, creating delicate, finely cut foliage that adds textural interest to the plant. The flower heads feature distinctive urn-shaped involucels with very short calyx bristles that extend beyond the involucel rim.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Mar-Nov

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: NCoRO, NCoRI, CCo, SnFrB, SCoRO, SnBr, PR

California counties: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Ventura, Humboldt, Alameda, Santa Clara, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Marin, El Dorado, San Luis Obispo, Solano, San Diego, Plumas, Contra Costa, Butte, Napa, Sonoma, San Mateo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.