Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea
Photo: parent species Triphysaria eriantha · (c) Justin Johnsen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by white flowers fading rose-pink vs. yellow relatives.
Rosy owl's-clover is a California native annual found in coastal bioregions including northern Coast, central Coast, San Francisco Bay, and southern Coast in coastal fields and bluffs at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white flowers that fade to rose-pink, creating a soft and subtle color transition. Growing with slender stems reaching up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a delicate and compact annual habit. Its leaves are finely divided, creating a feathery texture that complements the plant's gentle color palette. The small flowers cluster in distinctive inflorescences that blend beautifully with coastal grassland environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key feature is white flowers fading rose-pink vs. yellow relatives
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal fields, bluffs
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Mendocino, Humboldt, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Merced, San Mateo, Del Norte, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Santa Clara, Solano
Bloom period
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Triphysaria has sharp throat fold above lower lip; Castilleja has smooth throat without fold.; vs Linaria: Triphysaria has open beak with throat fold; Linaria has closed tube with spur projecting backward.; vs Trifolium: Triphysaria has tubular two-lipped flowers; Trifolium has round heads of pea-like flowers with three leaflets.; vs Bellardia: Triphysaria has throat fold and yellow-white flowers; Bellardia lacks throat fold and has purple-yellow flowers.; vs Orthocarpus: Triphysaria has open beak with throat fold; Orthocarpus has closed hood completely covering stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea native to California?
Yes. Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea bloom?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea grow?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea occurs in Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Mendocino, Humboldt, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea belong to?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Triphysaria.
What habitat does Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea grow in?
Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea grows in Coastal fields, bluffs.
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.