Trichostema oblongum
Mountain bluecurls
(c) Aiva Noringseth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trichostema oblongum (Mountain bluecurls) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by leaf width ratio and calyx lobe shape.
Mountain bluecurls is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in dry meadow margins and streambanks at elevations of 100 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces blue to lavender flowers with curved petals creating distinctive curling shapes. Growing with multiple stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it has short appressed or spreading hairs that give the plant a soft, textured appearance. Its leaves are widely elliptic, typically 2 to 4 centimeters long, with indistinct or very short petioles, appearing almost sessile against the stem. The plant's delicate stamens arch outward, extending beyond the flower's calyx and creating an elegant, wispy silhouette.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are leaf width ratio and calyx lobe shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry margins of meadows, streambanks
Elevation: 100-3000 m
California counties: Lake, Butte, Tuolumne, Sierra, Fresno, Plumas, Tulare, Tehama, Placer, Nevada, Calaveras, Madera, Trinity, Mariposa, Colusa, Humboldt, Kern, Mono, Amador, Modoc, El Dorado, Shasta, Lassen, Siskiyou, Napa, Alpine, Mendocino, Riverside, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Trichostema oblongum blooms Jun-Sep.
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 oblongum native to California?
Yes. Trichostema oblongum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trichostema oblongum bloom?
Trichostema oblongum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Trichostema oblongum grow?
Trichostema oblongum occurs in Lake, Butte, Tuolumne, Sierra, Fresno, Plumas, Tulare, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 100-3000 m.
What plant family does Trichostema oblongum belong to?
Trichostema oblongum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Trichostema.
What habitat does Trichostema oblongum grow in?
Trichostema oblongum grows in dry margins of meadows, streambanks.
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.