California has an amazing variety of wildflowers. Here’s my collection of California native wildflower photos, gathered from all over the state, but with an emphasis on Northern California (where I live). You may also be interested in my Wildflower Hikes page, where I write about some of the hikes you can take to find these wildflowers. All photos are available for purchase in a variety of formats.
“Endemic” indicates that the flower is found only in California.
You can filter the photos by clicking on the color buttons below.
Adobe lily
Fritillaria pluriflora. CNPS rank 1B.2
Alkali milkvetch
Astragalus tener var. tener. CNPS Rank 1B.2
Alpine lily
Lilium parvum
Alpine shooting star
Primula tetrandra, Oyster Creek CA.
American alpine speedwell
Veronica wormskjoldii
American bird's foot trefoil
Acmispon americanus var. americanus
American bistort
Bistorta bistortoides
American yellowrocket
Barbarea orthoceras
Anderson's thistle
Cirsium andersonii, Oyster Creek CA.
Annual mountain dandelion
Agoseris heterophylla
Antelope bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata var. tridentata
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Arrowleaf Senecio
Senecio triangularis, Oyster Creek CA.
Arroyo lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Azure penstemon
Penstemon azureus
Baby blue eyes
Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii
Baker's navarretia
Navarretia leucocephala ssp. bakeri, listed as CNPS 1B.1 Rare or endangered
Baker's violet
Viola bakeri
Bigelow's sneezeweed
Helenium bigelovii
Bigleaf lupine
Lupinus latifolius, Oyster Creek CA
Birch leaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Bird's eye gilia
Gilia tricolor
Bitter root
Lewisia rediviva
Blow Wives
Achyrachaena mollis. Seed head
Blow wives
Achyrachaena mollis.
Blue dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
Blue eyed grass
Sisyrinchium bellum, unusual white variation
Bolander's linanthus
Leptosiphon bolanderi
Brewer's navarretia
Navarretia breweri
Bridges' pincushionplant
Bridges' pincushionplant, Navarretia leptalea ssp. bicolor
Bright blue speedwell
Bright blue speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa
Broadleaf stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium
Brook saxifrage
Micranthes odontoloma
Brown's peony
Paeonia brownii
Bud saxifrage
Micranthes bryophora
Bulbous woodland star
Lithophragma glabrum
Butter 'n' Eggs
Triphysaria eriantha ssp eriantha. aka Johnny Tuck
California blushing monkeyflower
Erythranthe erubescens
California bog asphodel
Narthecium californicum
California buttercup
Ranunculus californicus var. californicus
California golden violet
Viola pedunculata
California goldfields
Lasthenia californica ssp. californica
California hesperochiron
Hesperochiron californicus
California Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium californicum, CNPS 4.2. Quincy, CA. Native
California Manroot
Marah fabacea
California pink
Silene laciniata ssp. californica
California Pitcher Plant
Darlingtonia californica. CNPS 4.2
California Pitcher Plant
Darlingtonia californica. CNPS 4.2
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica
California Saxifrage
Micranthes californica
California Tiger Lily
aka Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum, Mt. Shasta, CA. Native
California valerian
California valerian, Valeriana californica
Canary violet
Canary violet, Viola praemorsa
Canyon liveforever
Dudleya cymosa ssp. cymosa
Canyon nemophila
Nemophila heterophylla
Catalina mariposa lily
Calochortus catalinae, CNPS rank 4.2
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Changeable phacelia
Phacelia mutabilis
Checker lily
Fritillaria affinis
Chia Sage
Salvia columbariae
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus var microcarpus
Chilean Trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
Chilean trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
Coast lily
Lilium maritimum, CNPS rated 1B.1, Salt Point State Park, CA. Native, endemic
Coast range mariposa lily
Calochortus vestae
Coastal paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
Coastal tidytips
Layia platyglossa
Common beargrass
Xerophyllum tenax
Common cowparsnip
Heracleum maximum, Oyster Creek CA.. Gives some people a rash.
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
Common lomatium
Lomatium utriculatum
Common madia
Madia elegans
Common Manzanita
Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. manzanita
Common Spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Common woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Copeland's owl's clover
Orthocarpus cuspidatus ssp. copelandii
Cotton grass
Calliscirpus criniger
Coulter's fleabane
Erigeron coulteri
Cowbag Clover
Trifolium depauperatum var amplectens
Coyote mint
Monardella odoratissima
Coyote Thistle
Eryngium vaseyi
Cream Cups
Platystemon californicus
Cream sacs
Castilleja rubicundula ssp. lithospermoides
Cream sacs
Castilleja rubicundula ssp. rubicundula
Crimson columbine
Aquilegia formosa, Crooked Lakes, California, native
Crimson columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Crown brodiaea
Brodiaea coronaria
Cupped downingia
Downingia insignis
Cushion cryptantha
Cryptantha circumscissa
Dark-stained Prettyface
Triteleia ixioides ssp. unifolia
Deerbrush
Ceanothus integerrimus var. macrothyrsus
Diogenes' lantern
aka Golden fairy lantern. Calochortus amabilis, in the burned area of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, CA. Native, endemic
Donner Lake lupine
Lupinus lepidus var. sellulus
Dotseed plantain
Plantago erecta
Douglas iris
Iris douglasiana
Douglas' Beardstyle
Pogogyne douglasii
Douglas' golden violet,
Viola douglasii
Douglas' silverpuffs
Microseris douglasii ssp. douglasii seed head
Douglas' silverpuffs
Microseris douglasii
Douglas' stitchwort
Minuartia douglasii
Douglas's catchfly
Silene douglasii var. douglasii
Drummond's anemone
Anemone drummondii var. drummondii
Dusky onion
Allium campanulatum
Dusty-Maidens
Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii
Dwarf checkerbloom
Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malviflora
Dwarf groundsmoke
Gayophytum humile
Dwarf larkspur
Dwarf larkspur, Delphinium depauperatum
Dwarf sack clover
aka Cowbag clover. Trifolium depauperatum var. depauperatum
Dwarf woolly marbles
Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus
Elmer's golden eyed grass
Sisyrinchium elmeri
English sundew
Drosera anglica. CNPS Rated 2B.3
Eryngium jepsonii
CNPS Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2
Fairy slipper
Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis, aka Calypso orchid, Mt Tamalpais [FL0004]
False babystars
Leptosiphon androsaceus
Ferris' Milkvetch
Astragalus tener var. ferrisiae, CNPS 1B.1. Very difficult to distinguish from Alkali milkvetch, Astragalus tener var. tener, which is CNPS ranked 1B.2.
Fetid adder's tongue
Scoliopus bigelovii
Field popcornflower
Plagiobothrys fulvus var. campestris
Flatface downingia
Downingia pulchella
Folded downingia
Downingia ornatissima
Foothill deathcamas
Toxicoscordion paniculatum
Foothill Poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa, Traverse Creek, CA. Native, endemic
Footsteps of spring
Sanicula arctopoides
Fremont's goldfields
Lasthenia fremontii, aka Vernal pool goldfields
Fremont's Star Lily
Toxicoscordion fremontii
Fremont's tidytips
Layia fremontii
Fringed checkerbloom
Sidalcea diploscypha
Fringed willowherb
Epilobium ciliatum
Frying pans
Eschscholzia lobbii
Gold nuggets
Calochortus luteus, aka Yellow mariposa lily
Golden-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium californicum
Goldwire
Hypericum concinnum
Goosefoot violet
Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum
Goosefoot violet
Viola purpurea
Great valley coyote thistle
Eryngium castrense
Gumweed
Grindelia camporum
Haircap moss
Polytrichum sp.
Hairy owl's clover
Castilleja tenuis
Hartweg's iris
Iris hartwegii
Harvest brodiaea
Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans
Hayfield Tarweed
Hemizonia congesta
Hayfield tarweed
Hemizonia congesta ssp. lutescens
Heartleaf arnica
Arnica cordifolia
Heckard's Peppergrass
Lepidium latipes var heckardii, endemic. CNPS Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2
Hogwallow starfish
Hesperevax caulescens, aka Dwarf cudweed. CNPS rare plant 4.2 (limited distribution)
Horned downingia
Downingia bicornuta var. bicornuta. Note twisted anther bristles and two horns
Ithuriel's spear
Triteleia laxa, native. aka Wally baskets. Taller, branched head, when compared to Brodiaea
Jepson's milkvetch
Astragalus rattanii var. jepsonianus. CNPS 1B.2
Jessica stickseed
Jessica stickseed, Hackelia micrantha
Jeweled onion
Allium serra
Kelloggs monkeyflower
Diplacus kelloggii (formerly Mimulus kelloggii)
Lacy phacelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Ladies' tobacco
Pseudognaphalium californicum
Lambstongue ragwort
Senecio integerrimus
Lambstongue ragwort
Senecio integerrimus var. major
Large flowered star tulip
Calochortus uniflorus. CNPS rank 4.2
Lemmon's catchfly
Silene lemmonii
Leopard lily
Lilium pardalinum ssp. pardalinum
Lewis' flax
Linum lewisii var. lewisii
Little prince's pine
Chimaphila menziesii
Long leaved suncup
Taraxia subacaulis
Long rayed brodiaea, aka Marsh triteleia. Triteleia peduncularis
Triteleia peduncularis. Anthers at different levels
Longstalk clover
rifolium longipes
Lupinus nanus
Lupinus nanus
Marin checker lily
Fritillaria lanceolata var. tristulis, CNPS rated 1B.1. Marin
Meadow beardtongue
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis (glabrous inflorescence), Oyster Creek CA.
Meadow deathcamas
Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum
Meadow foxtail
aka Pacific foxtail. Alopecurus saccatus, native. Small form found in vernal pools, is larger in grasslands
Meadow larkspur
Delphinium nuttallianum
Meadow lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei
Meadow penstemon
Meadow penstemon, Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis. White variation
Micropus californicus
Micropus californicus
Milk kelloggia
Kelloggia galioides
Milkmaids
Cardamine californica
Miner's lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
Miniature Lupine
Lupinus bicolor
Mistletoe
Phoradendron sp.
Monument plant
Frasera speciosa, Oyster Creek CA.
Monument plant
Frasera speciosa, closeup of an individual flower. Oyster Creek, CA.
Mosquito bill
Primula hendersonii
Mount Diablo manzanita
Arctostaphylos auriculata. CNPS Rank 1B.3
Mountain blue penstemon
Penstemon laetus var. laetus
Mountain Bluebells
Mertensia ciliata, Oyster Creek CA.
Mountain jewelflower
Streptanthus tortuosus
Mountain misery
Chamaebatia foliolosa
Mountain pride
Penstemon newberryi, Crooked Lakes, CA. Native
Mountain whitethorn
Ceanothus cordulatus
Mt. Eddy lupine
Lupinus lapidicola. CNPS 4.3
Mt. Hood pussypaws
Calyptridium umbellatum
Muehlenberg's centaury
Zeltnera muehlenbergii
Musk monkeyflower
Erythranthe moschata
Naked buckwheat
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium
Naked mariposa lily
Calochortus nudus
Naked Mariposa Lily Cross
Calochortus nudus X Calochortus minimus
Narrow Leaf Mule Ears
Wyethia angustifolia
Narrow-leaf Mountain Trumpet
Collomia linearis, Oyster Creek CA
Narrowleaf onion
Allium amplectens
Nevada helianthella
Helianthella californica var. nevadensis
Nevada lewisia
Lewisia nevadensis
Nose skullcap
Scutellaria antirrhinoides
Oakland star tulip
Calochortus umbellatus, CNPS 4.2
One seeded pussypaws
Calyptridium monospermum
Opposite leaved tarweed
Hemizonella minima
Oregon gentian
Gentiana affinis var. ovata
Oregon gumweed
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla
Oregon timwort
Cicendia quadrangularis
Oregon woolly marbles
Psilocarphus oregonus
Pacific bleeding heart
Dicentra formosa
Pacific dogwood
Cornus nuttallii
Pacific false bindweed
Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata
Pacific hound's tongue
Cynoglossum grande, aka Adelinia grande
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
Pacific starflower
Lysimachia latifolia
Pacific woodrush
Luzula subsessilis
Padre's shooting star
Primula clevelandii var. patula
Pale western larkspur
Delphinium hesperium ssp. pallescens
Palmate-bracted bird's-beak
Chloropyron palmatum. CNPS Rank 1B.1, FE, SE
Parish's nightshade
Solanum parishii
Parrothead indian paintbrush
Castilleja pilosa
Pennycress
Noccaea fendleri, probably ssp glauca but need fruit to tell
Pine violet (aka Moose horn violet)
Viola lobata ssp. lobata
Pineapple weed
Matricaria discoidea
Pink honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
Pink mountainheath
Phyllodoce empetriformis
Pink sand verbena
Abronia umbellata
Pipestem clematis
Clematis lasiantha
Plantainleaf buttercup
Ranunculus alismifolius
Porterella
Porterella, Porterella carnosula
Prairie-smoke (aka old man's whiskers)
Geum triflorum var. ciliatum
Primrose monkeyflower
Erythranthe primuloides
Pringle's phacelia
Phacelia pringlei
Purdy's fritillary
Fritillaria purdyi. CNPS rank 4.3
Purdy's Onion
Allium fimbriatum var. purdyi. CNPS 4.3
Purple chinese houses
Collinsia heterophylla
Purple owl's clover
Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta
Purple owl's clover
Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta. White form
Purple sanicle
Sanicula bipinnatifida
Pussy ears
Calochortus tolmiei
Rannoch rush
Scheuchzeria palustris. CNPS Rated 2B.1 [FL0010]
Red Maids
Calandrinia menziesii
Reflexed rockcress
Boechera retrofracta
Ribbed fringepod
Thysanocarpus radians
Ribbed fringepod
Thysanocarpus radians. Sharp bend in pedicel at fruit
Rocky mountain pussytoes
Antennaria media
Roezl's penstemon
Penstemon roezlii
Rose meadowsweet
Spiraea splendens
Rosy meadowfoam
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea
Rosy pussytoes
Antennaria rosea
Rough hedgenettle
Stachys rigida
Royal Larkspur
Delphinium variegatum
Rusty popcornflower
Plagiobothrys nothofulvus
Sacramento Valley Buttercup
Ranunculus canus
Saffron flowered lupine
Lupinus croceus
Sanddune wallflower
Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
Sanddune wallflower
Erysimum perenne
Scabland fleabane
Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri
Scarlet fritillary
Fritillaria recurva
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata, Oyster Creek CA.
Scarlet paintbrush
Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata
Scott mountain phacelia
Howellanthus dalesianus. CNPS rank 4.3
Scytheleaf onion
Allium falcifolium
Seaside buckwheat
Eriogonum latifolium
Seep monkey flower
Erythranthe guttata
Shasta lily
Lilium pardalinum ssp. shastense
Shining Peppergrass
Lepidium nitidum
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Shrubby cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
Sierra Bog Orchid
Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys. closeup of the individual flower. Oyster Creek CA
Sierra larkspur
Delphinium glaucum
Sierra mariposa lily
Calochortus minimus
Sierra milkwort
Polygala cornuta
Sierra mock stonecrop
Sedella pumila
Sierra shooting star
Primula jeffreyi
Sierra stonecrop
Sedum obtusatum
Sierran rush
Juncus nevadensis var. nevadensis
Silver beachweed
Ambrosia chamissonis
Silver bush lupine
Lupinus albifrons
Siskiyou buckwheat
Eriogonum siskiyouense. CNPS Rank 4.3
Siskiyou milkvetch
Astragalus whitneyi var. siskiyouensis
Slender bog orchid
Platanthera stricta. Note lower lip is not as long/skinny as P. sparsiflora
Slender cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis, Oyster Creek CA.
Slender cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata
Slender phlox
Microsteris gracilis
Small camas
Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora
Small flowered blue eyed mary
Collinsia parviflora
Small Flowered Star Lily
Toxicoscordion micranthum
Smooth goldfields
Lasthenia glaberrima
Smooth mule-ears
Wyethia glabra
Smooth tidytips
Layia chrysanthemoides
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea, Oyster Creek CA.
Soft salty bird's-beak
Chloropyron molle ssp. molle. CNPS 1B.2, FE, SR
Sonoma clarkia
Clarkia gracilis ssp. sonomensis
Sparse flowered bog orchid
Platanthera sparsiflora
Spearleaf arnica
Arnica longifolia
Spicebush (aka Western sweet shrub)
Calycanthus occidentalis
Spikeweed
Centromadia fitchii
Spreading dogbane
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Spreading phlox
Phlox diffusa
St. Helena fawn lily
Erythronium helenae, CNPS rated 4.2, Modini-Mayacamas Reserve, California. Native, endemic
Stalked Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var stipitatus, native. Larger flowers
Starry false lily of the valley
Maianthemum stellatum
Sticky cinquefoil
Drymocallis glandulosa
Sticky cinquefoil
Drymocallis glandulosa
Sticky cinquefoil
Sticky cinquefoil, Drymocallis glandulosa var. glandulosa
Sticky monkeyflower
Diplacus aurantiacus
Sticky monkeyflower
Diplacus grandiflorus
Stream violet
Viola glabella
Streambank Bird's-foot Trefoil
Hosackia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia
Suisun thistle
Cirsium hydrophilum var. hydrophilum. CNPS 1B.1, FE
Sun cup
Taraxia ovata
Superb mariposa lily
Calochortus superbus
Sweet cicely
Sweet cicely, Osmorhiza berteroi
Table Mountain Meadowfoam
Limnanthes douglasii ssp. nivea. AKA Snow white meadowfoam
Tarweed fiddleneck
Amsinckia lycopsoides
The Eddys stonecrop
Sedum kiersteadiae
Thread linanthus
Leptosiphon filipes
Tiburon mariposa lily
Calochortus tiburonensis. CNPS 1B.1 and Federally listed as "Threatened". Ring Mountain
Tiling's Monkeyflower
Erythranthe tilingii, Oyster Creek, CA
Tinker's penny
Hypericum anagalloides
Toad lily
Toad lily, Montia chamissoi
Tomcat clover
Trifolium willdenovii
Torrey's blue eyed mary
Torrey's blue eyed mary, Collinsia torreyi
Torrey's monkeyflower
Diplacus torreyi
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Tricolored Monkeyflower
Diplacus tricolor, formerly Mimulus tricolor
True babystars
Leptosiphon bicolor
Tuber starwort
Pseudostellaria jamesiana
Tundra aster
Oreostemma alpigenum var. andersonii
Turkey Mullein
Croton setiger
Turkey pea
Sanicula tuberosa
Turkey Tangle Fogfruit
Phyla nodiflora
Utah service berry
Utah service berry, Amelanchier utahensis
Valley Tassels
Castilleja attenuata
Variableleaf collomia
Collomia heterophylla
Varied leaf Phacelia
Phacelia heterophylla ssp. virgata
Vernal pool brodiaea
Brodiaea minor
Vernal pool buttercup
Ranunculus bonariensis var. trisepalus. The entire flower is just 10mm across
Vernal pool checkerbloom
Sidalcea calycosa
Vernal Pool Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys stipitatus var micranthus. Small flowers
Virginia strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
Warrior's plume
Pedicularis densiflora
Washington lily
Lilium washingtonianum ssp. washingtonianum
Wavy leaf paintbrush
Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii
Wavy leaved indian paintbrush
Castilleja applegatei ssp. pinetorum
Wavyleaf indian paintbrush
Castilleja applegatei ssp. pallida
Waxy checkerbloom
Sidalcea glaucescens, Mormon Emigrant Trail, CA
Western blue eyed grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
Western dog violet
Viola adunca ssp. adunca
Western false asphodel
Triantha occidentalis ssp. occidentalis
Western labrador tea
Rhododendron columbianum
Western thimbleberry
Rubus parviflorus
Western trillium
Trillium ovatum
Western waterleaf
Western waterleaf, Hydrophyllum occidentale
Whiskerbrush
Leptosiphon ciliatus
White hawkweed
Hieracium albiflorum
White marsh marigold
Caltha leptosepala
White meadowfoam
Limnanthes alba ssp. alba
White rushlily
Hastingsia alba
White tipped clover
Trifolium variegatum
White veined wintergreen
Pyrola picta
Whitehead Navarretia
Navarretia leucocephala
Whitewhorl lupine
Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus
Wild hyacinth
Triteleia hyacinthina
Wild hyacinth
Dichelostemma multiflorum
Winecup clarkia
Clarkia purpurea
Woodbeauty
Drymocallis lactea (not sure of subspecies)
Woodland madia
Anisocarpus madioides
Woodland Tidytips
Layia gaillardioides
Woolly indian paintbrush
Castilleja foliolosa
Woolly mule ears
Wyethia mollis
Woolly rose-mallow
Hibiscus lasiocarpos var. occidentalis. CNPS Rare Plant rank 1B.2
Yellow carpet
Blennosperma nanum var. nanum
Yellow owl's clover
Castilleja campestris, Jepson Prairie, CA. Native
Yellow Rayed Goldfields
Lasthenia glabrata ssp glabrata, endemic
Yellow star tulip
Calochortus monophyllus
Yerba buena
Clinopodium douglasii