Trichostema lanceolatum
Vinegar weed
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trichostema lanceolatum (Vinegar weed) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by widespread distribution, leaf venation, curved corolla tube, long stamens.
Vinegar weed is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province in dry, open, generally disturbed habitats at elevations below 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to November, this plant produces flowers with a distinctive curved corolla tube that sharply recurves near the throat, creating an unusual floral structure. Growing with slender stems up to one meter tall, covered in short appressed or long soft-spreading hairs, some of which are glandular. Its leaves are lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 2 to 7 centimeters long, with prominent lateral veins near the base and a length more than three times its width. The plant's stamens extend 13 to 20 millimeters beyond the flower, adding to its distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; key features are widespread distribution, leaf venation, curved corolla tube, long stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open, generally disturbed habitats
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Lake, San Diego, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Trinity, Santa Clara, San Benito, Mendocino, Tulare, Sierra, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Merced, Sonoma, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Butte, Sacramento, Fresno, Madera, Santa Barbara, El Dorado, Calaveras, Yolo, Amador, Placer, Marin, Tehama, Siskiyou, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Contra Costa, Napa, Humboldt, Shasta, Alameda, Kings, Solano
Outside California: Oregon, Baja California
Bloom period
Trichostema lanceolatum blooms Jun-Nov.
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 lanceolatum native to California?
Yes. Trichostema lanceolatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trichostema lanceolatum bloom?
Trichostema lanceolatum blooms Jun-Nov.
Where in California does Trichostema lanceolatum grow?
Trichostema lanceolatum occurs in Lake, San Diego, Kern, Ventura, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Trichostema lanceolatum belong to?
Trichostema lanceolatum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Trichostema.
What habitat does Trichostema lanceolatum grow in?
Trichostema lanceolatum grows in Dry, open, generally disturbed habitats.
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.