Wahlenbergia marginata
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Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Herb
Wahlenbergia marginata is a California herb in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by Naturalized representative of a primarily Australian genus, uncommon in California's disturbed habitats.
Wahlenbergia marginata is a naturalized perennial found in disturbed areas at elevations up to 600 meters. Flowering from March to November, this plant produces pale blue flowers with spreading elliptic lobes 5 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall that branch from the base and are glabrous or hairy near the bottom, it forms a rhizomatous habit. Its thin cauline leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long, spoon-shaped or elliptic with wavy margins that narrow toward the base. The fruit is an obovoid or nearly round capsule 3 to 8 millimeters long that opens by flat or arched distal valves.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Naturalized representative of a primarily Australian genus, uncommon in California's disturbed habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: <= 600 m
Outside California: southeast United States, Asia
Bloom period
Wahlenbergia marginata blooms Mar-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Campanula: Both have radial, bell-shaped blue flowers, but Campanula capsules split by pores or slits low on the sides near the base, while Wahlenbergia capsules open by small valves at the very top and its flowers sit singly on slender wiry stalks.; vs Triodanis: Triodanis flowers are nearly stalkless and tucked into the upper leaf axils, often with unopened self-pollinating ones below, whereas Wahlenbergia bears its pale blue flowers on long, thread-like pedicels.; vs Githopsis: Bluecup is a tiny annual with five stiff, prominent calyx ribs and a flower nestled among crowded leaves, unlike the slender rhizomed Wahlenbergia with spoon-shaped wavy-margined leaves and stalked flowers.; vs Downingia: Downingias have strongly two-lipped, resupinate flowers with a spotted lower lip on an inferior twisted ovary, while Wahlenbergia flowers are radial with five equal lobes and no such markings.; vs Lobelia: Lobelias likewise have two-lipped, tubular, bilaterally symmetric flowers, in contrast to Wahlenbergia's open, radially symmetric bells.
Frequently asked questions
When does Wahlenbergia marginata bloom?
Wahlenbergia marginata blooms Mar-Nov.
What plant family does Wahlenbergia marginata belong to?
Wahlenbergia marginata is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Wahlenbergia.
What habitat does Wahlenbergia marginata grow in?
Wahlenbergia marginata grows in Disturbed areas.
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.