Simpsonanthus jonesii
Simpson's popcornflower, mojave popcornflower
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Simpsonanthus jonesii (Simpson's popcornflower) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by Recently segregated from Cryptantha based on distinctive floral and fruit characters - southwestern US endemic.
Simpson's popcornflower is a native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada east of the Sierra, and desert regions on sandy, gravelly, rocky washes and slopes in creosote-bush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 90 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with light yellow appendages in small funnel-shaped blossoms. Growing with ascending to erect stems up to 50 centimeters tall, the plant is distinctively sharp-spreading-bristly and taprooted. Its alternate leaves are oblong to elliptic, generally 2 to 10 centimeters long and rough with bulbous-based bristly hairs that give the plant a prickly texture. The fruit consists of 3 to 4 triangular-ovate nutlets, each 2 to 3 millimeters long with a keeled surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Recently segregated from Cryptantha based on distinctive floral and fruit characters - southwestern US endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly, rocky washes and slopes, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 90-1900 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Mono, Imperial, Los Angeles, Shasta
Outside California: to southern Utah, western Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Simpsonanthus jonesii blooms (Jan)Mar-May(Jun).
Frequently asked questions
Is Simpsonanthus jonesii native to California?
Yes. Simpsonanthus jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Simpsonanthus jonesii bloom?
Simpsonanthus jonesii blooms (Jan)Mar-May(Jun).
Where in California does Simpsonanthus jonesii grow?
Simpsonanthus jonesii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Mono, Imperial, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of 90-1900 m.
What plant family does Simpsonanthus jonesii belong to?
Simpsonanthus jonesii is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Simpsonanthus.
What habitat does Simpsonanthus jonesii grow in?
Simpsonanthus jonesii grows in Sandy, gravelly, rocky washes and slopes, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.