Scrophularia desertorum
Desert figwort
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Scrophulariaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Scrophularia desertorum (Desert figwort) is a native California herb in the Scrophulariaceae family, recognized by dull leaf color and wedge-shaped leaf bases.
Desert figwort is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions on dry rocky slopes, in crevices, among boulders, and gravelly washes at elevations of 850 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces distinctive maroon and cream flowers with pink edges, approximately 7 to 9 millimeters long with a slightly constricted mouth. Growing with robust stems 70 to 120 centimeters tall that are glandular-puberulent and generally curved upward, it develops an impressive height in its rocky habitats. Its leaves are yellow to gray-green, with larger blades 4 to 8 centimeters long, featuring a wedge-shaped base that narrows toward the petiole. The plant's calyx lobes are small, triangular-ovate, and green, with acute to rounded tips that have scarious margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; diagnostic dull leaf color and wedge-shaped leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocky slopes, generally in crevices, among boulders, canyons, gravelly washes
Elevation: 850-3000 m
California counties: Tulare, Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, Amador, Kern, Siskiyou, Plumas, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Modoc, Shasta, Los Angeles, Sierra, Alpine
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Scrophularia desertorum blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Blitum: Scrophularia has bilateral flowers with petals; Blitum has tiny flowers without petals.; vs Urtica: Scrophularia has showy bilateral flowers; Urtica has stinging hairs and tiny greenish flowers.; vs Stachys: Scrophularia has urn-shaped flowers in branched clusters; Stachys has flowers in dense whorled spikes.; vs Hesperocnide: Scrophularia has bilateral tubular flowers; Hesperocnide has tiny greenish flowers without petals.; vs Melissa: Scrophularia has greenish to dark red flowers; Melissa has white to pale pink flowers and lemon scent.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scrophularia desertorum native to California?
Yes. Scrophularia desertorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Scrophularia desertorum bloom?
Scrophularia desertorum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Scrophularia desertorum grow?
Scrophularia desertorum occurs in Tulare, Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, Amador, Kern, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 850-3000 m.
What plant family does Scrophularia desertorum belong to?
Scrophularia desertorum is in the Scrophulariaceae family, genus Scrophularia.
What habitat does Scrophularia desertorum grow in?
Scrophularia desertorum grows in dry rocky slopes, generally in crevices, among boulders, canyons, gravelly washes.
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.