Sunol Wildflowers
A photographic guide to showy wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness
Sorted by Flower Color
Photographs by Wilde Legard Botanist, East Bay Regional Park District Revision: February 23, 2007 More than 2,000 species of native and naturalized plants grow wild in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most are very difficult to identify without the help of good illustrations. This is designed to be a simple, color photo guide to help you identify some of these plants.
The selection of showy wildflowers displayed in this guide is by no means complete. The intent is to expand the quality and quantity of photos over time. The revision date is shown on the cover and on the header of each photo page. A comprehensive plant list for this area (including the many species not found in this publication) can be downloaded at the East Bay Regional Park District’s wild plant download page at: http://www.ebparks.org.
This guide is published electronically in Adobe Acrobat® format to accommodate these planned updates. You have permission to freely download and distribute, and print this pdf for individual use. You are not allowed to sell the electronic or printed versions.
In this version of the guide, only showy wildflowers are included. These wildflowers are sorted first by flower color, then by plant family (similar flower types), and finally by scientific name within each family. Under each photograph are four lines of information, based on the current standard wild plant reference for California: The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California, 1993.
Common Name These non-standard names are based on Jepson and other local references. Scientific Name Scientific names revised since 1993 are NOT included in this edition. Origin & Longevity Native or Introduced. Annual, Biennial, Perennial, or a combination. Family Name The common plant family name according to Jepson.
For readers that prefer a more comprehensive guide, sorted by scientific name, please download the “wild plants” version of this guide.
Readers are encouraged to email any suggestions or corrections to [email protected].
All photographs are © 2006 Wilde Legard, all rights reserved. revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 1 of 26
Seaside Heliotrope Nievitas Popcorn Flower California Buckeye Common Yard Knotweed Heliotropium curassavicum Plagiobothrys nothofulvus Aesculus californica Polygonum arenastrum Native Perennial Native Annual Native Perennial Introduced Annual Borage Family Borage Family Buckeye Family Buckwheat Family
Western Virgin's Bower Poison Hemlock Cow Parsnip Shepherd's Needle Clematis ligusticifolia Conium maculatum Heracleum lanatum Scandix pecten-veneris Native Perennial Introduced Biennial Native Perennial Introduced Annual Buttercup Family Carrot Family Carrot Family Carrot Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 2 of 26
Dense-flower Willowherb Hillside Gooseberry Canyon Gooseberry Common / California Manroot Epilobium densiflorum Ribes californicum var. californicum Ribes menziesii Marah fabaceus Native Annual Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Evening Primrose Family Gooseberry Family Gooseberry Family Gourd Family
Blue Elderberry White Fairy Lantern Oakland Star Tulip White Butterfly Mariposa Lily Sambucus mexicana Calochortus albus Calochortus umbellatus Calochortus venustus Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Honeysuckle Family Lily Family Lily Family Lily Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 3 of 26
Common Soap Plant Starry False Solomon's Seal Hidden-flower Cheeseweed Santa Clara Thornmint Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum Smilacina stellata Malva parviflora Acanthomintha lanceolata Native Perennial Native Perennial Introduced Annual Native Perennial Lily Family Lily Family Mallow Family Mint Family
Common Horehound Climbing Morning Glory Shortstem Morning Glory Field Bindweed Marrubium vulgare Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata Calystegia subacaulis ssp. subacaulis Convolvulus arvensis Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Introduced Perennial Mint Family Morning-Glory Family Morning-Glory Family Morning-Glory Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 4 of 26
Milkmaids White Water Cress Hairy Fringepod Blue Gum Cardamine californica Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Thysanocarpus curvipes Eucalyptus globulus Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Introduced Perennial Mustard Family Mustard Family Mustard Family Myrtle Family
Small-flower Nightshade Pinklobe Linanthus Bicolor Linanthus Mouse-ear Chickweed Solanum americanum Linanthus androsaceus Linanthus bicolor Cerastium glomeratum Native Annual-Perennial Native Annual Native Annual Introduced Annual Nightshade Family Phlox Family Phlox Family Pink Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 5 of 26
Windmill Pink Common Chickweed California Dwarf Plantain English Plantain Silene gallica Stellaria media Plantago erecta Plantago lanceolata Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Native Annual Introduced Annual Pink Family Pink Family Plantain Family Plantain Family
Cream Cups Creambush / Ocean Spray Oso Berry Pacific Ninebark Platystemon californicus Holodiscus discolor Oemleria cerasiformis Physocarpus capitatus Native Annual Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Poppy Family Rose Family Rose Family Rose Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 6 of 26
Western Chokecherry Himalayan Blackberry Native California Blackberry Woodland Star Prunus virginiana var. demissa Rubus discolor Rubus ursinus Lithophragma affine Native Perennial Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Rose Family Rose Family Rose Family Saxifrage Family
California Saxifrage Yarrow Blow Wives Mayweed Saxifraga californica Achillea millefolium Achyrachaena mollis Anthemis cotula Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Introduced Annual Saxifrage Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 7 of 26
Mulefat California Everlasting Hayfield Tarweed Slender Cottonweed Baccharis salicifolia Gnaphalium californicum Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulaefolia Micropus californicus var. californicus Native Perennial Native Biennial Native Perennial Native Annual Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family
California White Chicory Longhorn Plectritis Variable-leaf Nemophila Wild Heliotrope Phacelia Rafinesquia californica Plectritis macrocera Nemophila heterophylla Phacelia distans Native Annual Native Annual Native Annual Native Annual Sunflower Family Valerian Family Waterleaf Family Waterleaf Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness White Page 8 of 26
Rock Phacelia White Fiesta Flower Phacelia imbricata ssp. imbricata Pholistoma membranaceum Native Perennial Native Annual Waterleaf Family Waterleaf Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 9 of 26
Lindley Blazing Star Common Fiddleneck California Buttercup Prickleseed Buttercup Mentzelia lindleyi Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Ranunculus californicus Ranunculus muricatus Native Annual Native Annual Native Perennial Introduced Annual Blazing-Star Family Borage Family Buttercup Family Buttercup Family
Sweet Fennel Pacific Woodland Sanicle Yellow Mariposa Lily Erect-pod Winter Cress Foeniculum vulgare Sanicula crassicaulis Calochortus luteus Barbarea orthoceras Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Carrot Family Carrot Family Lily Family Mustard Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 10 of 26
Black Mustard Yellow Field Mustard Tree Tobacco Bermuda Buttercup Brassica nigra Brassica rapa Nicotiana glauca Oxalis pes-caprae Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Perennial Introduced Perennial Mustard Family Mustard Family Nightshade Family Oxalis Family
Deerweed California Lotus Gully Lupine California Bur Clover Lotus scoparius var. scoparius Lotus wrangelianus Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus Medicago polymorpha Native Perennial Native Annual Native Annual Introduced Annual Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 11 of 26
Sour Clover Shamrock Clover Birch-leaf Mt. Mahogany Sharp Point Fluvellin Melilotus indica Trifolium dubium Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides Kickxia elatine Introduced Annual-Biennial Introduced Annual Native Perennial Introduced Annual Pea Family Pea Family Rose Family Snapdragon Family
Bush Monkey Flower Golden Monkey Flower Yellow Johnny-tuck Common Woolly Mullein Mimulus aurantiacus Mimulus guttatus Triphysaria eriantha ssp. eriantha Verbascum thapsus Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Introduced Biennial Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 12 of 26
Large-flower Native Dandelion Tocalote Yellow Star Thistle Pineapple Weed Agoseris grandiflora Centaurea melitensis Centaurea solstitialis Chamomilla suaveolens Native Perennial Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family
Brass Buttons Golden Yarrow Western Goldenrod Rosilla Cotula coronopifolia Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Euthamia occidentalis Helenium puberulum Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Biennial Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 13 of 26
Fitch Spikeweed Smooth Cat's-ear Rough Cat's-ear Goldfields Hemizonia fitchii Hypochaeris glabra Hypochaeris radicata Lasthenia californica Native Perennial Introduced Annual Introduced Perennial Native Annual Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family
Common Tidytips Common / Coast Tarweed Cupped Monolopia Bristly Ox-tongue Layia platyglossa Madia sativa Monolopia major Picris echioides Native Annual Native Annual Native Annual Introduced Annual-Biennial Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Yellow Page 14 of 26
Common Groundsel Prickly Sow Thistle Common Sow Thistle Common Dandelion Senecio vulgaris Sonchus asper ssp. asper Sonchus oleraceus Taraxacum officinale Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Biennial-Perennial Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family
Narrow-leaf Mule's Ear Gray Mule's Ear Johnny-Jump-Up / Wild Pansy Wyethia angustifolia Wyethia helenioides Viola pedunculata Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Violet Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 15 of 26
Pale Western Larkspur Rattlesnake Weed Purple Sanicle Elegant Clarkia Delphinium hesperium ssp. pallescens Daucus pusillus Sanicula bipinnatifida Clarkia unguiculata Native Perennial Native Annual Native Perennial Native Annual Buttercup Family Carrot Family Carrot Family Evening Primrose Family
Panicled / Weedy Willowherb Common Willowherb Long-beaked Filaree Red-stem Filaree Epilobium brachycarpum Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum Erodium botrys Erodium cicutarium Native Annual Native Perennial Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Evening Primrose Family Evening Primrose Family Geranium Family Geranium Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 16 of 26
White-stem Filaree Purpletip Cut-leaf Geranium Hairy Dove's Foot Geranium Flowering/Pinkflower Currant Erodium moschatum Geranium dissectum Geranium molle Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Annual Native Perennial Geranium Family Geranium Family Geranium Family Gooseberry Family
Hairy Vine Honeysuckle Pink / Serrated Onion Giant Trillium Ithuriel's Spear Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans Allium serra Trillium chloropetalum Triteleia laxa Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Honeysuckle Family Lily Family Lily Family Lily Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 17 of 26
Grass Poly Loosestrife Blue Field Madder California Milkweed Whorled/Narrow-leaf Milkweed Lythrum hyssopifolium Sherardia arvensis Asclepias californica Asclepias fascicularis Introduced Annual-Perennial Introduced Annual Native Perennial Native Perennial Loosestrife Family Madder Family Milkweed Family Milkweed Family
Pennyroyal Common Rigid Hedge Nettle Vinegar Weed Wild Radish Mentha pulegium Stachys ajugoides var. rigida Trichostema lanceolatum Raphanus sativus Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Introduced Annual Mint Family Mint Family Mint Family Mustard Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 18 of 26
Pale Purple Pacific Pea Spanish Clover Bay Area Silver Lupine California Tea Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus Lotus purshianus var. purshianus Lupinus albifrons var. collinus Rupertia physodes Native Perennial Native Annual Native Perennial Native Perennial Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family
Tree Clover Pinpoint Clover Rose Clover Small-head Clover Trifolium ciliolatum Trifolium gracilentum var. gracilentum Trifolium hirtum Trifolium microcephalum Native Annual Native Annual Introduced Annual Native Annual Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 19 of 26
Tomcat Clover Spring Vetch Winter Vetch Serpentine Linanthus Trifolium willdenovii Vicia sativa ssp. sativa Vicia villosa ssp. varia Linanthus ambiguus Native Annual Introduced Annual Introduced Annual-Biennial Native Annual Pea Family Pea Family Pea Family Phlox Family
Ruby Sand Spurry Mosquitobills Shooting Star Magenta Red Maids California Wild Rose Spergularia rubra Dodecatheon hendersonii Calandrinia ciliata Rosa californica Introduced Annual-Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Native Perennial Pink Family Primrose Family Purslane Family Rose Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 20 of 26
Bellardia Purple Owl's Clover Chinese Houses Few-flowered Collinsia Bellardia trixago Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta Collinsia heterophylla Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina Introduced Annual Native Annual Native Annual Native Annual Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family
Italian Thistle Purple Star Thistle Bull Thistle Weedy Cudweed Carduus pycnocephalus Centaurea calcitrapa Cirsium vulgare Gnaphalium luteo-album Introduced Annual Introduced Annual-Biennial Introduced Biennial Introduced Annual Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Sunflower Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Pink/Purple Page 21 of 26
Common Lessingia Milk Thistle Lemon Verbena Robust Vervain Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia Silybum marianum Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida Native Perennial Introduced Annual-Biennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Sunflower Family Sunflower Family Vervain Family Vervain Family
California / Rock Phacelia Phacelia californica Native Perennial Waterleaf Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Blue Page 22 of 26
Large Hound's Tongue Royal Larkspur Narrow-leaf Flax Blue-eyed Grass Cynoglossum grande Delphinium variegatum ssp. variegatum Linum bienne Sisyrinchium bellum Native Perennial Native Perennial Introduced Perennial Native Perennial Borage Family Buttercup Family Flax Family Iris Family
Blue Dicks Ookow Blue Witch Miniature Dove Lupine Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Dichelostemma congestum Solanum umbelliferum Lupinus bicolor Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Annual Lily Family Lily Family Nightshade Family Pea Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Blue Page 23 of 26
Douglas Sky Lupine Arroyo Lupine California Blue Gilia American Brooklime Speedwell Lupinus nanus Lupinus succulentus Gilia achilleifolia ssp. achilleifolia Veronica americana Native Annual Native Annual Native Annual Native Perennial Pea Family Pea Family Phlox Family Snapdragon Family
Persian Speedwell Baby Blue-eyes Blue Fiesta Flower Veronica persica Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii Pholistoma auritum var. auritum Introduced Annual Native Annual Native Annual Snapdragon Family Waterleaf Family Waterleaf Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Red/Orange Page 24 of 26
Red / Crimson Columbine California Fuchsia Indian Pink California Poppy Aquilegia formosa Epilobium canum ssp. canum Silene californica Eschscholzia californica Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Native Perennial Buttercup Family Evening Primrose Family Pink Family Poppy Family
Wind Poppy Scarlet Pimpernel Common Indian Paintbrush Woolly Paintbrush Stylomecon heterophylla Anagallis arvensis Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis Castilleja foliolosa Native Annual Introduced Annual Native Perennial Native Perennial Poppy Family Primrose Family Snapdragon Family Snapdragon Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Red/Orange Page 25 of 26
California Figwort Venus / Cobweb Thistle Scrophularia californica ssp. californica Cirsium occidentale var. venustum Native Perennial Native Biennial Snapdragon Family Sunflower Family revision 2/23/2007 Wildflowers of Sunol Regional Wilderness Green/Brown Page 26 of 26
Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis var. affinis Native Perennial Lily Family