Strigose Lotus
Acmispon strigosus · Fabaceae
- Form
- Annual herb
- Height
- 2-12 in
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
- Pet toxicity
- Unknown
- Habitat
- Grassland · Coastal Sage Scrub · Desert · Disturbed
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Open scrub, grassland, sandy flats, and disturbed native openings
- Form / size: Low annual herb, usually under 1 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Winter rain only
- Blooms: Spring · Pollinator value: Moderate
Description
A small, low native annual with hairy stems, pinnate leaflets, and yellow pea-family flowers. It is easy to overlook until you kneel down in spring annual wildflower habitat and notice the little yellow blooms tucked close to the ground.
Wildlife & pollinators
Visited by small native bees and other spring insects; as a legume, it contributes to seasonal nitrogen cycling.
Habitat & range
Open sandy or gravelly soils in coastal sage scrub, grasslands, desert margins, and disturbed native openings across Southern California.
In the garden
Best as part of a native annual seed mix for open, lean soil. It is seasonal and depends on winter rainfall and reseeding.
Propagation
From seed, sown before winter rains. Light scarification may help germination.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Open sandy scrub, wildflower fields, and trail edges in spring.
Problems
Usually none. Like many annuals, it disappears after seed set and can be missed outside bloom season.
