Trichostema laxum

Turpentine weed

Family: Lamiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Turpentine weed is a California native annual found in northwestern California and the Modoc Plateau in gravelly streambanks and sandy soils at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small flowers with a distinctive red-tinged calyx and a delicate corolla tube that curves upward near the throat. Growing with slender stems up to 50 centimeters tall, the plant has short appressed hairs and some spreading glandular hairs. Its leaves are distinctively shaped with a clear petiole 5 to 15 millimeters long and blades 3 to 7 centimeters long, ranging from lanceolate to narrowly ovate. The plant's unique stamens extend 7 to 16 millimeters, adding to its distinctive appearance.

Habitat: Gravelly streambanks or sandy soil

Bloom period: Jun-Oct

Elevation: < 1700 m

Bioregions: NW, MP.

California counties: Trinity, Mendocino, Napa, Humboldt, Lake, Glenn, Sonoma, Tehama, Colusa, San Benito, Modoc, Solano, Mariposa, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.