Trichostema austromontanum
San jacinto bluecurls
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trichostema austromontanum (San jacinto bluecurls) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family.
San jacinto bluecurls is a California native annual herb found in southern California mountain ranges in rocky or chaparral habitats. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate blue to purple flowers with curved stamens emerging from small, pale tubular corollas. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall covered in a mix of short appressed and longer spreading hairs, some of which are glandular. Its leaves are elliptic, generally 2 to 5 centimeters long with petioles less than 5 millimeters, typically longer than they are wide. The flower's distinctive calyx lobes are more than twice the length of the flower tube, widest at the base and ending in sharp acute points.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Mono, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Ventura, San Diego, Alpine
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Trichostema flowers have five equal lobes; sage flowers are distinctly two-lipped.; vs Lavandula: Trichostema stamens arch dramatically outward; lavender stamens stay hidden inside the flower tube.; vs Penstemon: Trichostema has square stems and opposite leaves; penstemon stems are round.; vs Lupinus: Trichostema flowers have five equal lobes; lupine flowers are pea-shaped with banner and keel.; vs Sairocarpus: Trichostema has four stamens visible arching out; snapdragons hide stamens inside closed throat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trichostema austromontanum native to California?
Yes. Trichostema austromontanum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Trichostema austromontanum grow?
Trichostema austromontanum occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Mono, Calaveras and other counties.
What plant family does Trichostema austromontanum belong to?
Trichostema austromontanum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Trichostema.
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.