Stemodia durantifolia
Purple stemodia, Purple Stemodia
(c) Carlos Domínguez-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Stemodia durantifolia (Purple stemodia) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by Neotropical species at northern range limit, adapted to ephemeral desert aquatic habitats with distinctive purple flowers.
Purple stemodia is a native perennial found in the peninsular region and western desert areas of Southern California in riparian habitats, on wet sand or rocks, and drying streambeds at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering all year, this plant produces violet to purple flowers 7 to 10 millimeters long with distinctive corollas. Growing with glandular-hairy stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall, it has an upright, branching structure. Its leaves are arranged 2 to 3 per node, approximately lanceolate, 2 to 4 centimeters long and 5 to 20 millimeters wide, with slightly toothed edges that become smaller toward the stem's tip. The fruit is an ovoid-cylindric structure 4 to 5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Neotropical species at northern range limit, adapted to ephemeral desert aquatic habitats with distinctive purple flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Riparian habitats, on wet sand or rocks, drying streambeds
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Santa Barbara
Outside California: Arizona, Texas, to South America, introduced elsewhere
Bloom period
Stemodia durantifolia blooms All year.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Bacopa: Bacopa has rounded, smooth-edged leaves and white-pink flowers; Stemodia has narrow, toothed leaves and purple flowers.; vs Gambelia: Gambelia has bright red flowers and leaves in whorls of three; Stemodia has purple flowers and opposite leaves.; vs Penstemon: Penstemon has a fuzzy sterile stamen visible in the flower throat; Stemodia lacks this staminode.; vs Nothochelone: Nothochelone has a sterile stamen and grows in mountains; Stemodia lacks staminode and grows in desert streams.; vs Keckiella: Keckiella is a shrub with a sterile stamen; Stemodia is herbaceous without a staminode.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stemodia durantifolia native to California?
Yes. Stemodia durantifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stemodia durantifolia bloom?
Stemodia durantifolia blooms All year.
Where in California does Stemodia durantifolia grow?
Stemodia durantifolia occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Santa Barbara, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Stemodia durantifolia belong to?
Stemodia durantifolia is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Stemodia.
Is Stemodia durantifolia rare or endangered?
Stemodia durantifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.