Smithiastrum prenanthoides
California harebell
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Smithiastrum prenanthoides (California harebell) is a native California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by . Key differences: height, inflorescence type, elevation range.
California harebell is a native perennial herb found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada, central Coast Ranges, western San Francisco Bay Area, and northern southern Coast Ranges in montane redwood forests at elevations of 50 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces blue flowers in nodding, raceme-like clusters with funnel-shaped corollas 7 to 14 millimeters long, their lobes erect in the lower half and reflexed in the upper half. Growing with sturdy stems 20 to 150 centimeters tall, it has leaves distributed evenly along the stem, each 10 to 60 millimeters long and serrate. Its leaves have short petioles generally less than 5 millimeters long, with a distinctive serrated edge. The fruit is hemispheric with a cordate base, strongly ribbed, with pores located at or below the middle of the structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: height, inflorescence type, elevation range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane, redwood forests
Elevation: 50-2000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Shasta, Tulare, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mendocino, Marin, San Mateo, Trinity, Butte, Tehama, Plumas, Yuba, Nevada, Placer, Del Norte, Santa Cruz, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Sierra, Santa Clara, Lake, Calaveras
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Smithiastrum prenanthoides blooms Jun-Sep.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smithiastrum prenanthoides native to California?
Yes. Smithiastrum prenanthoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Smithiastrum prenanthoides bloom?
Smithiastrum prenanthoides blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Smithiastrum prenanthoides grow?
Smithiastrum prenanthoides occurs in Humboldt, Shasta, Tulare, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mendocino, Marin, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of 50-2000 m.
What plant family does Smithiastrum prenanthoides belong to?
Smithiastrum prenanthoides is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Smithiastrum.
What habitat does Smithiastrum prenanthoides grow in?
Smithiastrum prenanthoides grows in Montane, redwood forests.
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.