Prairie:
Wildflowers

California's coastal prairies are home to a vast array of fascinating wildflowers. The flora is so diverse that we could only describe a few of the species below. We hope you enjoy the photos and that they, along with the information we present, spark your interest in learning more about the incredible plants that inhabit our coastal prairies.

Coastal prairie wildflowers on display. Photo by J. Coleman

The scientific names for the species are taken from the Jepson Manual of Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition (Baldwin et al. 2012).

Carrot Family (Apiaceae)

Coyote Thistle
(Eryngium armatum)
Native

looking down from above on the star-burst heads of coyote thistle
The bluish star-burst heads of coyote thistle at Carrington Ranch, Sonoma County. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2010.

Introduction to Tarweeds and tarplants (Hemizonia. Deinandra, Madia)

Sunflower Family (Asteraceae); Tarplants Subtribe (Asteraceae; Madiinae)

Tarweed and tarplant are names commonly applied to several genera in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) including Hemizonia, Deinandra and Madia.

They are called “tarweeds” because the plants have glandular hairs that make them both aromatic and sticky to the touch and because they are difficult to tell apart (Keator 2009).

The sticky coating is thought to be a strategy for dealing with the long California summer drought by reducing water loss from these late-blooming plants (Saunders 1914:219-220). It could also be a deterrent for potential herbivores, grazers and browsers.

Due to relationships uncovered by molecular phylogenic studies, some species were reassigned from Hemizonia to Deinandra and Centromadia (Flora of North America Editorial Committee eds. 1993+. Accessed 2010 Oct 28; Baldwin et al. 2012).

Hayfield tarweed
(Hemizonia congesta)
Native

A skipper visiting a Hemizonia congesta subsp. lutescens flower at Jenner Headlands. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery, 25 June 2010.

Coastal tarweed
(Deinandra corymbosa, formerly Hemizonia corymbosa)
Native

small green bush with bright yellow flowers of coastal tarweed
Coastal tarweed (Deinandra corymbosa) at Point Reyes, Marin County Jun 18, 1981. Photo © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College.

Coast tarweed, Chilean tarweed
(Madia sativa)
Native

leaves and bud of coast tarweed, Madia sativa
Madia sativa at Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery, July 2010.
close up of yellow flowerhead of Madia sativa; unopened flowers have red tips
Madia sativa inflorescence at Point Reyes National Seashore near Kehoe Ranch. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery July 2010.

Brownie thistle
(Cirsium quercetorum)
Native

green unopened flowers of a coyote thistle
Brownie thistle at Sonoma Coast State Beach 2010 May 11. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

Harlequin Lotus
(Hosakia gracilis, formerly Lotus formosissimus)
Native

yellow and white irrelgular flower of the Harlequin lotus
Harlequin lotus at Point Reyes National Seashore near Kehoe Beach July 22, 2010. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

True clovers
(Trifolium)

close up of the purple and white tipped influorescence of Showy Indian Clover
Showy Indian clover flower head. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2004.

Annual clovers

Rancheria clover
(Trifolium albopurpureum)
Native
Showy Indian clover
(Trifolium amoenum)
Native
Bearded clover
(Trifolium barbigerum)
Native
Pinole clover
(Trifolium bifidum)
Native
Foothill clover
(Trifolium ciliolatum)
Native
opened very light yellow flower of Foothill Clover
Bull clover (Trifolium fucatum) at Bodega Marine Reserve. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2010.
Bull clover
(Trifolium fucatum)
Native
Pinpoint clover
(Trifolium gracilentum)
Native
Chilean clover, twin-headed clover, Macrae’s clover
(Trifolium macraei)
Native
Small-head clover
(Trifolium microcephalum)
Native
Thimble clover
(Trifolium microdon)
Native
White-tip clover, variegated clover
(Trifolium variegatum)
Native
Tomcat clover
(Trifolium willdenovii)
Native

Perennial clovers

Cow clover
(Trifolium wormskioldii)
Native
pink flowerhead of Cow Clover
Cow clover (Trifolium wormskioldii) growing with Douglas' iris and wild strawberry in coastal prairie at Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2009.

California checkerbloom
(Sidalcea malviflora subsp. malviflora)
Native

close up of purpley pink petals of California checkerbloorm
California checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora) at Point Reyes National Seashore, W Chimney Rock (Marin County). Franz Xaver, Wikimedia Commons.

Suncup, goldeneggs, coast suncup
(Taraxia ovata, formerly Camissonia ovata)
Native

looking down on the basal rosette and single bright yellow bloom of a Sun Cup
Suncup (Taraxia ovata) at Point Reyes National Seashore 15 Feb 2011. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

Indian paintbrushes
(Castilleja spp., Triphysaria spp.)
Native

soft peach-colored bloom of an Indian Paintbrush
Indian paintbrushes (Castilleja) sp. at Point Reyes Kehoe Beach area. July 22, 2010. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery

Johnny Nip
(Castilleja ambigua subsp. ambigua)
Native

clustered bright green, white and yellow blooms of Johnny Nip
Johnny Nip (Castilleja ambigua subsp. ambigua) at Point Reyes National Seashore July 22, 2010. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

San Francisco owl’s clover
(Triphysaria floribunda)
Native

cluster of over a dozen opening flowers of Owl Clover
San Francisco owl's clover (Triphysaria floribunda) at Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 22 July 2010.

Johnny-tuck, Pink butter ‘n’ eggs
(Triphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea)
Native

Influorescence of Johnny Tuck; petals on the top flowers are white; petals on the lower flowers are purple
Johnny-tuck (Tryphysaria eriantha subsp. rosea) at Jenner Headlands. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery, June 24, 2010.

Plantain (plantago), Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae)

The most common plantain in coastal prairies and many other habitats is the introduced English plantain (Plantago lanceolata).

Three native plantains are found in coastal prairies: tall coastal plantain (Plantago subnuda), sea plantain (Plantago maritima) and dwarf plantain (Plantago erecta) also known as California plantain or dotseed plantain).

Dwarf plantain
(Plantago erecta)
Native

specimen on California plantain on a black background
Dwarf plantain (Plantago erecta). Photo © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College.

Tall Coastal Plantain
(Plantago subnuda)
Native

Tall Coastal Plantain with flowering spikes rising out of a grassy field
Tall coastal plantain (Plantago subnuda) with Leontodon taraxacoides at Point Reyes National Seashore 2010 July 29. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

California buttercup
(Ranunculus californicus)
Native

close up of bright yellow flower of the California Buttercup
California buttercup flower and developing seed head at Ridgecrest in Marin County. Photo 2010 by D. Immel-Jeffery.

Western Dog Violet
(Viola adunca)
Native

looking down on the blue blooms of a Western Dog Violot surrounded by grasses
Western dog violet (Viola adunca) in Deschampsia cespitosa prairie at Point Reyes National Seashore, 2011 Feb 3. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery

An introduction to Brodiaea, Brodiaea family (Themideae)

Brodiaea are perennial monocots whose leaves and stems arise from corms (underground stems that store carbohydrates). The corms are covered with dark brown fibers and the plants propagate by forming daughter corms.

The flowers usually include an inner whorl of structures called staminodes that are between the petals and the stamens (see white structures in photo). There are only about 18 species of Brodiaea worldwide and most are endemic to California (University of California 2009). All Brodiaea grow in open grasslands (Keator 1990).

Harvest Brodiaea
(Brodiaea elegens subsp. elegens)
Native

Dwarf Brodiaea
(Brodiaea terrestris ssp. terrestris)
Native

lose up of the blue-purple flowers of dwarf brodiaea
Dwarf Brodiaea (Brodiaea terrestris ssp. terrestris) growing with Trifolium sp. and Leontodon saxatilis (formerly L. taraxacoides) at Sonoma Coast State Beach. 2010 May 10. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.

Wavyleaf Soap Plant, Amole
(Chlorogalum pomeridianum)
Native

close up of the white thin-petaled flowers of a Wavyleaf Soap Plant
Wavyleaf soap root flower (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) at Ring Mountain, Marin County. The flowers have 3 white petals and 3 white sepals (one petal is hidden within the top sepal in this photo). Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery June 12, 2010.
a specimen of Wavyleafed Soap Plant showing leaves, flowers and roots
Wavyleaf soap root flower (Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. divaricatum) in Marin County, June 2, 2010. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery.
dense broom-like hand brush made from wavyleaf soap plant
Brush made from wavyleaf soap plant by Yokut basketweaver, Lois Conner. Fibers are from the bulb covering. The handle is covered with a paste made from the baked pulp of the bulb. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2010.

Gairdner’s Yampah
(Perideridia gairdneri subsp. gairdneri)
Native

specimen of Gairdner's Yampah, showing leaves and roots, lying on a white background
Gairdner's yampah. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2009.

Kellogg’s Yampah
(Perideridia kelloggii)
Native

Douglas’ Iris, Coast Iris
(Iris douglasiana)
Native

coastal bluff looking towards the ocean; purple dots in the grassland are Douglas' Iris flowers
Douglas’ Iris (Iris douglasiana) in coastal prairie near Bodega. Photo by J. Coleman 2010.

Blue-eyed Grass
(Sisyrinchium bellum)
Native

close up a single purple-blue bloom of blue-eyed grass
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) S. Watson. Photo by D. Immel-Jeffery 2010.