Triteleia bridgesii
Bridges' brodiaea
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Triteleia bridgesii (Bridges' brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by shiny throat and long tube > lobes.
Bridges' brodiaea is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations below 1,200 meters, often growing on rocky serpentine slopes and forest edges. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces stunning lilac, blue-purple, pink, or red-purple flowers with translucent, shiny throats in clusters atop smooth scapes 10 to 60 centimeters tall. Growing with linear leaves 20 to 55 centimeters long and 3 to 10 millimeters wide, it has an elegant, slender form. Its perianth reaches 27 to 45 millimeters long, with lobes 10 to 20 millimeters that spread abruptly from a tapered base. The stamens are distinctively attached at a single level, with blue-tinged anthers 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; key features are shiny throat and long tube > lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Foothills, forest edges, often on rocks, serpentine
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: El Dorado, Del Norte, Placer, Lassen, Butte, Tulare, Tuolumne, Nevada, Yuba, Glenn, Humboldt, Trinity, Kern, Amador, Shasta, Siskiyou, Mariposa, Tehama, Calaveras, Sierra, Plumas, Mendocino, Merced
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Triteleia bridgesii blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Brodiaea: Triteleia has six fertile stamens; Brodiaea has only three fertile stamens plus three white petal-like staminodes.; vs Dipterostemon: Triteleia has tubular flowers; Dipterostemon flowers open wide and spreading.; vs Allium: Triteleia has no onion smell; Allium smells like onion when crushed.; vs Bloomeria: Triteleia has tubular flowers; Bloomeria has spreading golden stars with a nectar cup.; vs Muilla: Triteleia flowers form clear tubes; Muilla petals spread wide and nearly separate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Triteleia bridgesii native to California?
Yes. Triteleia bridgesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Triteleia bridgesii bloom?
Triteleia bridgesii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Triteleia bridgesii grow?
Triteleia bridgesii occurs in El Dorado, Del Norte, Placer, Lassen, Butte, Tulare, Tuolumne, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Triteleia bridgesii belong to?
Triteleia bridgesii is in the Themidaceae family, genus Triteleia.
What habitat does Triteleia bridgesii grow in?
Triteleia bridgesii grows in Foothills, forest edges, often on rocks, serpentine.
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.