Veronica regina-nivalis
Snow queen
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Veronica regina-nivalis (Snow queen) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by (S. cordata); key features are non-serpentine habitat and rounded leaf tips.
Snow queen is a California native perennial herb found in the Northwestern California and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in moist forest at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, it bears fewer than 15 blue flowers up to 10 millimeters long in a raceme that curves or reclines on the soil as it fruits. It grows from rhizomes with persistent, widely ovate basal leaves having lobed bases and obtuse to rounded tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (S. cordata); key features are non-serpentine habitat and rounded leaf tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist forest
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Modoc, Marin, Sonoma, Siskiyou
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Veronica regina-nivalis blooms Mar--Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Lindernia: Lindernia has leaves along the stem; Synthyris has all leaves at ground level with naked flower stalks.; vs Dopatrium: Dopatrium has tiny scale leaves on stems; Synthyris has broad basal leaves with leafless flower stems.; vs Gratiola: Gratiola has leaves arranged along stems; Synthyris keeps all leaves in a basal rosette.; vs Veronica: Veronica has leaves on flowering stems; Synthyris has basal leaves only with naked flower stalks.; vs Proboscidea: Proboscidea has large leaves on branching stems; Synthyris has basal rosettes with upright flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veronica regina-nivalis native to California?
Yes. Veronica regina-nivalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Veronica regina-nivalis bloom?
Veronica regina-nivalis blooms Mar--Jun.
Where in California does Veronica regina-nivalis grow?
Veronica regina-nivalis occurs in Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Modoc, Marin, Sonoma, Siskiyou, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Veronica regina-nivalis belong to?
Veronica regina-nivalis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Veronica.
What habitat does Veronica regina-nivalis grow in?
Veronica regina-nivalis grows in Moist forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.