How to Grow and Care for Leptosiphon

The variable linanthus is a common plant in wooded and open areas throughout much of California. This annual herb can bear flowers in various shades of pink, purple, yellow, and white and is valued for its attractive appearance. The height of the stem can vary as well.

Nuttall's linanthus is a low-growing flowering plant that can be found in various habitats, but mostly on rocky slopes and in forest clearings in western North America, at the elevation range of 1650 to 2600 m. Although some nurseries offer Leptosiphon nuttallii, the plant is difficult to cultivate and keep alive for more than two seasons.

False babystars (*Leptosiphon androsaceus* ) are mainly endemic to California, although they are occasionally found elsewhere in western North America. Because of Leptosiphon androsaceus's drought-tolerant nature and its small but vibrant flowers, it is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in desert areas. The plant blooms from spring through summer and produces flowers that range in color from white to purple.

Leptosiphon liniflorus is an annual herb producing a thin stem 10 to 50 cm tall. The leaves are divided into needle-like linear lobes each up to 3 cm in length. The inflorescence is an open array of funnel-shaped with purple-veined white flowers having corolla lobes each up to 1 cm long. The bloom period is spring to summer.

Largeflower linanthus boasts large, showy flowers with a significant bloom that acts as a beacon for pollinators in its native dry, open habitats. The plant's delicate-stemmed and colorful blossoms, ranging from white to pink and purple, contrast against fine, fern-like foliage, providing a vivid display in spring and early summer. Adapted to well-drained soils, largeflower linanthus exemplifies resilience and beauty amid arid conditions.