Overview
Camissoniopsis bistorta is a low, sprawling annual native to coastal California, with trailing reddish stems 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) long radiating from a basal rosette. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long and slightly hairy. From spring into early summer it bears yellow, four-petaled flowers about 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) across, each petal often marked with one or more red-brown spots near the base; the flowers age to reddish-orange. Blooms open in the daytime, unlike the night-blooming relatives in the evening primrose family. The species grows on sandy soils, coastal bluffs, dunes, and open scrub in central and southern California. It grows in full sun in sandy, fast-draining soil and tolerates drought and salt spray near the coast. The plant germinates with winter rains, flowers in spring, sets seed, and dies as the soil dries. The flowers draw native bees and other small pollinators. It reseeds where soil stays open and sandy. Grown as a cool-season annual.
Native Range
Camissoniopsis bistorta is native to central and southern California and northern Baja California. It grows on sandy soils, coastal bluffs, dunes, and in open coastal scrub and grassland.Suggested Uses
Used in coastal native plantings, dune and bluff restoration, and water-wise gardens on sandy soil. Suited to sunny, fast-draining sites near the coast. Sown in drifts where it can reseed.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Blooms from spring into early summer, March to June, after winter germination. Flowering lasts several weeks before the plant sets seed and dies. Bloom is earlier in warm coastal sites.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Sow seed in fall on sandy, fast-draining soil in full sun, as the species grows through the cool, wet season. Water lightly through winter and spring while plants grow and flower. It needs no fertilizer and grows in lean, sandy ground. The annual dies as the soil dries in summer, leaving seed for the next year. Letting some plants set seed keeps a stand going. It tolerates coastal salt spray and wind.Pruning
No pruning is needed on this short-lived annual. Spent plants may be cleared once they dry in summer. Seed is left to scatter for the following season.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Fall, before winter rains
Days to Maturity
60–90 days
Plant Spacing
8 inches