Central California Wildflowers

Scientific NameCommon NameFormer Name
Abies bracteata Santa Lucia fir
Abronia latifolia Yellow sand verbena
Abronia pogonantha Mojave sand verbena
Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood acacia
Acaena pinnatifida Biddy biddy
Acmispon brachycarpus Short-podded lotus Lotus humistratus
Acmispon cytisoides Bentham's deerweed Lotus benthamii
Acmispon heermannii Woolly lotus Lotus heermannii
Acmispon junceus Rush lotus Lotus junceus
Acmispon parviflorus San Diego lotus Lotus micranthus
Adelinia grandis Western hound's tongue Cynoglossum grande
Adiantum aleuticum Five-fingered fern
Agoseris apargioides Seaside dandelion
Aira caryophyllea European hairgrass
Allenrolfea occidentalis Iodine bush
Allium cratericola Cascade onion
Allium crispum Crinkled onion
Allium dichlamydeum Coastal onion
Allium hickmanii Hickman's onion
Allium howellii Howell's onion
Allium hyalinum Glassy onion
Allium serra Jeweled onion
Allium triquetrum Three-cornered onion
Amsinckia eastwoodiae Eastwood's fiddleneck
Amsinckia spectabilis Seaside fiddleneck
Amsinckia vernicosa Green fiddleneck Amsinckia vernicosa var. vernicosa
Anthoxanthum occidentale Vanilla grass Hierochloe occidentalis
Aphyllon californicum ssp. condensum California broomrape Orobanche californica ssp. condensa
Aphyllon purpureum Naked broomrape (white) Orobanche uniflora
Arabis blepharophylla Coast rock cress
Aralia californica Elk clover (leaves)
Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone
Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone (flowers)
Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone (leaves)
Arctostaphylos crustacea Shaggy-bark manzanita Arctostaphylos tomentosa
Arctostaphylos cruzensis Arroyo de la Cruz manzanita (leaves)
Arctostaphylos hookeri Hooker's manzanita
Arctostaphylos imbricata San Bruno Mountain manzanita
Arctostaphylos luciana Santa Lucia manzanita (berries)
Arctostaphylos luciana Santa Lucia manzanita (flower)
Arctostaphylos montana Mt. Tamalpais manzanita
Arctostaphylos montereyensis Monterey manzanita
Arctostaphylos morroensis Morro manzanita
Arctostaphylos morroensis (leaves) Morro manzanita
Arctostaphylos obispoensis Serpentine manzanita (leaves)
Arctostaphylos pilosula La Panza manzanita Arctostaphylos wellsii
Arctostaphylos pumila Sand-mat manzanita
Arctostaphylos purissima La Purisima manzanita
Arctostaphylos rudis Shagbark manzanita
Arctostaphylos rudis Shagbark manzanita (leaves/fruit)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bear berry
Aristolochia californica Dutchman's pipe
Armeria maritima Sea thrift
Artemisia pycnocephala Coast sage
Astragalus breweri Brewer's milkvetch
Astragalus curtipes Morro milkvetch
Astragalus curtipes Morro milkvetch (fruit)
Astragalus gambelianus Gambel's dwarf milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus var. nigricalycis Freckled milkvetch
Astragalus nuttallii Ocean bluff milk-vetch
Astragalus nuttallii Ocean bluff milk-vetch (fruit)
Astragalus oxyphysus? Mt. Diablo milk-vetch?
Athysanus unilateralis Ladies' tongue mustard (fruit) Heterodraba unilateralis
Azolla filiculoides Mosquito fern
Barbarea verna Early winter cress
Blennosperma nanum Common stickyseed
Briza maxima Rattlesnake grass
Brodiaea elegans Harvest brodiaea
Bromus arenarius Australian chess
Bromus catharticus Rescue grass
Calamagrostis nutkaensis Pacific reed grass
Calandrinia menziesii Redmaids (white) Calandrinia ciliata
Calendula arvensis Field marigold
Callitriche marginata California starwort
Calochortus argillosus Clay mariposa lily
Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus Club-haired mariposa
Calochortus clavatus var. recurvifolius Arroyo de la Cruz mariposa
Calochortus luteus Yellow mariposa
Calochortus obispoensis San Luis Obispo star tulip
Calochortus pulchellus Mt. Diablo fairy lantern
Calochortus striatus Alkali mariposa lily
Calochortus tolmiei White pussy ears
Calochortus umbellatus Oakland star tulip
Calypso bulbosa Fairy slipper
Calystegia subacaulis Hill morning glory
Camissonia campestris Mojave sun-cups
Camissonia contorta Contorted suncup
Campanula californica Marsh harebell
Cardamine oligosperma Bitter cress
Cardionema ramosissimum Sand carpet
Carex nudata Naked sedge
Carex obispoensis San Luis Obispo sedge
Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta Tiburon paintbrush
Castilleja attenuata Valley tassels
Castilleja densiflora ssp. obispoensis Dense-flowered owl's clover
Castilleja latifolia Monterey paintbrush
Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana Franciscan paintbrush
Castilleja wightii Wight's paintbrush (red and yellow)
Castilleja wightii Wight's paintbrush (red)
Castilleja wightii Wight's paintbrush (yellow)
Caulanthus anceps Lemmon's mustard Guillenia lemmonii
Caulanthus coulteri Coulter's jewel flower Caulanthus coulteri var. coulteri
Caulanthus lemmonii? Lemmon's jewelflower? Caulanthus coulteri var. lemmonii
Ceanothus cuneatus var. fascicularis Buck brush
Ceanothus dentatus Cut-leaf ceanothus
Ceanothus foliosus Wavy-leaved ceanothus
Ceanothus impressus Santa Barbara ceanothus
Ceanothus maritimus San Luis Obispo ceanothus
Ceanothus papillosus Wartleaf ceanothus
Ceanothus rigidus Monterey ceanothus Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Blue blossom
Centaurea cyanus Bachelor's buttons
Cerastium fontanum Common chickweed
Cerastium viride? Field chickweed
Chaenactis glabriuscula var. lanosa Yellow pincushion flower
Chenopodium littoreum Coastal goosefoot Chenopodium carnosulum var. patagonicum
Chorizanthe angustifolia Narrow-leaf spineflower
Chorizanthe breweri Brewer's spineflower
Chorizanthe diffusa Diffuse spineflower
Chorizanthe douglasii San Benito spineflower
Cicendia quadrangularis Oregon timwort
Cirsium brevistylum Indian thistle
Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense Bog thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. compactum Compact cobweb thistle
Cirsium quercetorum Brownie thistle
Cirsium rhothophilum Surf thistle
Cirsium rhothophilum Surf thistle (leaves)
Clarkia affinis Chaparral clarkia
Clarkia amoena Farewell-to-spring
Clarkia prostrata Prostrate clarkia
Clarkia rubicunda Ruby-chalice clarkia
Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata Pismo clarkia
Clarkia speciosa ssp. speciosa Red-spot clarkia
Claytonia gypsophiloides Gypsum spring beauty
Claytonia sibirica Candy flower
Clinopodium douglasii Yerba buena Satureja douglasii
Collinsia bartsiifolia White collinsia
Collinsia heterophylla Chinese houses (violet)
Collinsia heterophylla Chinese houses (white)
Collinsia sparsiflora Few-flowered collinsia (white)
Conicosia pugioniformis Slender-leaved iceplant
Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. littoralis Sea-side bird's beak
Cortaderia jubata Pink pampas grass
Crassula aquatica Aquatic pygmy weed
Cryptantha flaccida Beaked cryptantha
Cryptantha leiocarpa Coast cryptantha
Cynosurus echinatus Hedgehog dogtail
Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom
Danthonia californica California oatgrass
Datura stramonium Thorn apple
Deinandra pallida Kern tarweed Hemizonia pallida
Delphinium decorum Coastal larkspur
Delphinium decorum Coastal larkspur (blue and white)
Delphinium gypsophilum Gypsum-loving larkspur
Delphinium hesperium Western larkspur
Delphinium nudicaule Red larkspur
Delphinium parryi ssp. blochmaniae Dune larkspur
Delphinium recurvatum Valley larkspur
Delphinium variegatum? Royal larkspur?
Descurainia sophia Flix weed (in fruit)
Dichelostemma congestum Ookow
Diplacus aurantiacus Bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus
Diplacus calycinus Kaweah River bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens
Diplacus grandiflorus? Cut-petal bush monkeyflower? Mimulus aurantiacus var. grandiflorus?
Diplacus pictus Calico monkeyflower Mimulus pictus
Diplacus rattanii Rattan's monkeyflower Mimulus rattanii
Dipsacus sativus Fuller's teasel
Distichlis spicata Salt grass
Draba verna Whitlow grass
Dudleya abramsii ssp. murina San Luis Obispo dudleya
Dudleya farinosa Sea lettuce
Dudleya palmeri? Palmer's liveforever?
Eastwoodia elegans Eastwoodia
Ephedra californica Desert tea (tree)
Epilobium ciliatum ssp. watsonii San Francisco willowherb
Equisetum telmateia Giant horsetail (sterile & fertile stems)
Eremalche parryi ssp. kernensis Kern mallow
Eremalche parryi ssp. kernensis? Kern mallow (white)?
Eremalche parryi ssp. parryi Parry's mallow
Erigeron glaucus Seaside daisy
Eriodictyon altissimum Indian Knob mountain balm
Eriodictyon californicum California yerba santa
Eriodictyon traskiae Pacific yerba santa
Eriogonum gossypinum Cottony buckwheat
Eriogonum gracile Slender bickwheat
Eriogonum latifolium Coast buckwheat
Eriogonum nortonii Pinnacles buckwheat
Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii Fort Tejon woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum multicaule Many-stemmed eriophyllum
Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lizard tail
Eryngium armatum Coastal coyote thistle
Eryngium spinosepalum Spiny-sepaled button celery
Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum Wallflower
Erysimum franciscanum San Francisco wallflower
Erysimum menziesii Headland wallflower
Erysimum suffrutescens Dune wallflower Erysimum insulare ssp. suffrutescens
Erythranthe geniculata Slimy monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus var. geniculatus
Erythranthe microphylla Small-leaf monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus
Erythranthe nasuta Seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus var. gracilis
Eschscholzia lemmonii ssp. kernensis Tejon poppy
Eschscholzia lemmonii ssp. lemmonii Tejon poppy
Eschscholzia lobbii Frying pans
Eschscholzia rhombipetala Diamond-petal poppy
Euphorbia crenulata Chinese caps
Euphorbia peplus Petty spurge
Extriplex californica California orach Atriplex california
Festuca arundinacea Tall fescue
Festuca californica California fescue
Fragaria chiloensis Beach strawberry
Fragaria vesca Woodland strawberry
Fritillaria affinis Mission bells
Fritillaria agrestis Stink bells
Fritillaria striata Striped adobe lily
Fumaria parviflora Fine-leaf fumitory
Gamochaeta ustulata Purple everlasting Gnaphalium purpureum
Geranium core-core New Zealand geranium Geranium retrorsum
Geranium dissectum Cutleaf geranium (white)
Geranium purpureum Little robin
Gilia achilleifolia ssp. achilleifolia California gilia
Gilia achilleifolia ssp. multicaulis Many-stemmed California gilia
Gilia clivorum Purple-spot gilia
Gilia latiflora Broad-flowered gilia
Gilia tenuiflora Sand gilia
Gilia tricolor Bird's eye gilia
Grindelia hirsutula Hairy gumweed
Grindelia stricta Coastal gumweed
Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia Hayfield tarweed
Heracleum maximum Cow parsnip Heracleum lanatum
Herniaria hirsuta Herniaria
Hesperevax sparsiflora Common evax
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa
Hesperocyparis sargentii Sargent cypress Cupressus sargentii
Hesperolinon breweri Brewer's dwarf flax
Hesperomecon linearis Carnival poppy Meconella linearis
Holocarpha heermannii Heermann's tarweed
Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow barley
Horkelia cuneata var. sericea Wedgeleaf horkelia Horkelia cuneata ssp. sericea
Hornungia procumbens Prostrate hutchinsia Hutchinsia procumbens
Hosackia gracilis Harlequin lotus Lotus formosissimus
Iris douglasiana Douglas iris
Iris douglasiana Douglas iris (pale)
Iris longipetala Coast iris
Iris macrosiphon Ground iris
Isolepis cernua Low bulrush Scirpus cernuus
Juncus bufonius? Toad rush?
Koeleria gerardi Annual June grass
Lactuca saligna Small-leaved lettuce (leaves)
Lasthenia californica California goldfields
Lasthenia ferrisiae Alkali goldfields
Lasthenia fremontii Vernal pool goldfields
Lasthenia glaberrima Smooth goldfields
Lasthenia microglossa Small-rayed goldfields
Lasthenia minor Woolly goldfields
Layia chrysanthemoides Wetland tidy tips
Layia glandulosa Desert tidy tips (pale yellow)
Layia heterotricha Pale yellow tidy tips
Layia hieracioides Tall tidy tips
Layia munzii Munz' tidy tips
Layia pentachaeta ssp. albida White Sierra tidy tips
Lepechinia calycina Woodbalm pitcher sage (inflated calyx)
Lepidium jaredii Jared's peppergrass
Lepidium strictum Upright pepperweed
Leptosiphon androsaceus False baby stars Linanthus androsaceus
Leptosiphon androsaceus False baby stars (white) Linanthus androsaceus
Leptosiphon bicolor Bicolor linanthus Linanthus bicolor
Leptosiphon bicolor Bicolor linanthus (white) Linanthus bicolor
Leptosiphon grandiflorus Large-flowered linanthus Linanthus grandiflorus
Leptosiphon pygmaeus Pygmy linanthus Linanthus pygmaeus
Leptosyne calliopsidea Leafy-stem coreopsis Coreopsis calliopsidea
Lessingia germanorum San Francisco lessingia
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. douglasii Common meadowfoam
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea Common meadowfoam
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea Common meadowfoam (single flower)
Linum bienne Narrow-leaf flax
Lithophragma heterophyllum Woodland star
Lomatium californicum California lomatium
Lomatium caruifolium? Caraway-leaved lomatium?
Lomatium dasycarpum Woolly lomatium
Lomatium macrocarpum Large-fruited lomatium
Lomatium parvifolium Small-leaved lomatium (fruit)
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii Twinberry
Lunaria annua Moonwort
Lupinus albifrons Silver bush lupine
Lupinus arboreus Coastal lupine (blue)
Lupinus arboreus Yellow bush lupine
Lupinus bicolor Dove lupine (pink)
Lupinus cervinus Deer lupine
Lupinus chamissonis Dune bush lupine
Lupinus formosus Summer lupine
Lupinus microcarpus Chick lupine (blue)
Lupinus nanus Sky lupine
Lupinus variicolor Varied lupine
Luzula comosa Pacific wood-rush
Lysimachia latifolia Pacific starflower Trientalis latifolia
Lysimachia minima Chaffweed Centunculus minimus
Madia radiata Showy madia
Madia sativa Coast madia
Malacothamnus jonesii Jones' bush mallow (in bud)
Malacothrix californica California desert dandelion
Malacothrix floccifera Woolly malacothrix
Malacothrix incana Dunedelion
Marah fabacea Coast wild cucumber Marah fabaceus
Marah fabacea Coast wild cucumber (fruit) Marah fabaceus
Marah oregana Coastal wild cucumber Marah oreganus
Mentzelia gracilenta Slender blazing star
Mentzelia pectinata San Joaquin blazing star
Monardella undulata ssp. crispa Crisp monardella Monardella crispa
Monardella undulata ssp. undulata San Luis Obispo monardella Monardella frutescens
Monardella villosa Coyote mint Monardella antonina
Monolopia congdonii San Joaquin woollythreads
Monolopia major? Cupped monolopia?
Monolopia stricta Crum's monolopia
Morella californica Wax myrtle Myrica californica
Mucronea californica California spineflower
Myosotis latifolia Broad-leaf forget-me-not
Myosurus minimus Little mousetail
Navarretia setiloba Piute Mountains navarretia
Navarretia squarrosa Skunkweed
Nemacaulis denudata Woolly heads
Nemacladus gracilis Slender threadplant
Nemophila menziesii var. atomaria White baby blue eyes
Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii Baby blue eyes
Nicotiana quadrivalvis Indian tobacco
Oemleria cerasiformis Oso berry (fruit)
Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei Bakersfield cactus
Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei Bakersfield cactus (flower)
Osmorhiza berteroi Mountain sweet cicely Osmorhiza chilensis
Oxalis micrantha? Dwarf wood sorrel?
Packera breweri Brewer's groundsel Senecio breweri
Pedicularis densiflora Indian warrior (flowers)
Petrorhagia dubia Wild carnation
Phacelia californica Rock phacelia
Phacelia ciliata Great Valley phacelia
Phacelia distans Common phacelia (white)
Phacelia divaricata Divaricate phacelia
Phacelia douglasii Douglas' phacelia
Phacelia grisea Gray phacelia
Phacelia insularis North Coast phacelia
Phacelia malvifolia Nettle-leaved phacelia
Phacelia nemoralis Woods phacelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia Lacy phacelia
Phalaris californica California canarygrass
Pholistoma membranaceum White fiesta flower
Pinus attenuata Knobcone pine (male cones)
Pinus muricata Bishop pine
Pinus radiata Monterey pine
Pinus sabiniana Gray pine
Piperia elegans Coast rein orchid
Plagiobothrys canescens Valley popcorn flower
Plagiobothrys humistratus Dwarf popcorn flower
Plagiobothrys stipitatus Stalked popcorn flower
Plagiobothrys tenellus Slender popcorn flower
Plantago coronopus Cutleaf plantain
Plantago maritima Seaside plantain
Plantago subnuda Mexican plantain (leaves)
Platystemon californicus Cream cups (yellow)
Plectritis congesta Sea blush
Plectritis congesta ssp. brachystemon Short-spurred plectritis Plectritis brachystemon
Plectritis macrocera White plectritis
Poa douglasii Douglas' bluegrass
Pogogyne douglasii Douglas' mesamint
Polygonum paronychia Dune knotweed
Polystichum munitum Sword fern
Potentilla anserina Silverweed
Poterium sanguisorba Small burnet Sanguisorba minor
Primula hendersonii Foothill shooting star Dodecatheon hendersonii
Prosartes hookeri Fairy bells Disporum hookeri
Prosartes smithii Fairy bells Disporum smithii
Prunella vulgaris var. vulgaris? Prunella
Prunus fasciculata var. punctata Sand almond (leaves)
Pseudobahia peirsonii San Joaquin adobe sunburst
Pseudognaphalium ramosissimum Pink everlasting Gnaphalium ramosissimum
Ptelea crenulata Hop tree
Quercus durata var. durata Leather oak
Ramalina menziesii Lace lichen
Ranunculus lobbii Lobb's aquatic buttercup
Ranunculus muricatus Spiny-fruit buttercup
Ranunculus occidentalis Western buttercup
Ribes divaricatum Spreading gooseberry
Ribes divaricatum Spreading gooseberry (fruit)
Ribes menziesii Canyon gooseberry (stem)
Ribes quercetorum Foothill gooseberry (fruit)
Ribes sanguineum Red-flowering currant
Romulea rosea Rosy sand crocus
Rosa nutkana Nootka rose
Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry
Rumex acetosella Sheep sorrel
Rumex pulcher Fiddle dock
Sabulina californica California sandwort Minuartia californica
Sabulina douglasii Douglas' sandwort Minuartia douglasii
Salix sitchensis Sitka willow
Salix sitchensis Sitka willow (leaves)
Salvia sonomensis Creeping sage
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa Red elderberry (leaves) Sambucus racemosa var. microbotrys
Sanicula arctopoides Footsteps of spring
Sanicula laciniata Coast sanicle
Sanicula maritima Adobe snakeroot
Schismus arabicus Mediterranean grass
Schoenoplectus acutus Common tule
Schoenoplectus americanus Common threesquare Scirpus americanus
Schoenoplectus californicus California bulrush Scirpus californicus
Scoliopus bigelovii Fetid adder's-tongue (leaves)
Scrophularia atrata Dark-flowered figwort
Sedum spathulifolium Pacific stonecrop
Senecio aphanactis California groundsel
Senecio aronicoides California butterweed
Senecio blochmaniae Dune ragwort
Senecio blochmaniae Dune ragwort (leaves)
Senecio californicus Yellow dune daisy
Senecio glomeratus Australasian fireweed Erechtites glomerata
Senecio glomeratus Australasian fireweed (underleaf) Erechtites glomerata
Senecio minimus Coastal burnweed (leaves) Erechtites minima
Senecio sylvaticus Woodland groundsel
Sequoia sempervirens Coast redwood
Sherardia arvensis Field madder
Sidalcea calycosa Pt. Reyes checkerbloom
Sisyrinchium californicum Yellow-eyed grass
Solanum douglasii White nightshade (purple-tinged)
Solanum umbelliferum Blue nightshade
Solidago confinis Southern goldenrod
Solidago elongata Meadow goldenrod Solidago canadensis
Soliva sessilis Soliva
Sparaxis tricolor Wandflower
Spergularia rubra Red sand spurrey
Stachys ajugoides Hedge nettle
Stachys chamissonis Giant hedge-nettle
Stephanomeria virgata (pink) Twiggy wreath plant
Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. glandulosus Jewelflower Streptanthus albidus ssp. peramoenus
Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. glandulosus Jewelflower (pale) Streptanthus albidus ssp. peramoenus
Streptanthus insignis? San Benito jewelflower?
Symphyotrichum chilense Wild aster Aster chilensis
Syntrichopappus lemmonii Lemmon's syntrichopappus
Tanacetum bipinnatum Dune tansy Tanacetum camphoratum
Taraxia ovata Golden eggs Camissonia ovata
Tauschia kelloggii Kellogg's tauschia
Tauschia kelloggii Kellogg's tauschia (leaves)
Tellima grandiflora Fringe cups
Tetrapteron graciliflorum Hill suncup Camissonia graciliflora
Thermopsis californica var. californica California goldenbanner
Toxicoscordion venenosum Death camas
Trifolium barbigerum Bearded clover
Trifolium bifidum Notch-leaf clover
Trifolium depauperatum Balloon clover (in fruit)
Trifolium dubium Shamrock clover
Trifolium fucatum Bull clover
Trifolium glomeratum Clustered clover
Trifolium gracilentum Pinpoint clover
Trifolium microdon Thimble clover
Trifolium subterraneum Subterranean clover
Trifolium variegatum White-tipped clover
Triglochin concinna Arrow grass
Trillium chloropetalum Common trillium
Triphysaria eriantha ssp. eriantha Butter and eggs
Triphysaria floribunda San Francisco owl's clover
Triphysaria micrantha Little butter and eggs
Triphysaria micrantha Little butter and eggs (white)
Triphysaria pusilla Dwarf owl's clover
Triphysaria versicolor Yellowbeak owl's clover
Triteleia ixioides ssp. scabra Pretty face
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's spear
Ulex europaeus Gorse Ulex europaea
Vaccinium ovatum Huckleberry
Vicia gigantea Giant vetch
Vicia villosa ssp. varia Winter vetch
Viola ocellata Two-eyed violet
Whipplea modesta Modesty
Wyethia angustifolia Narrow-leaf mule ears
Wyethia helenioides Mule ears

^ = new photo (as of January 4, 2023)

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