Cupressus sargentii is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family known by the common name Sargent's cypress. It is endemic to California, where it is known from Mendocino county southwards to Santa Barbara county. This taxon is limited to the Coast Range mountains. Like Mcnab Cypress, it is one of the most widespread of the California Cypresses. It grows in forests with other conifers, as well as chaparral and other local mountain habitat, usually in pure stands on serpentine soils. It generally grows 10 to 15 meters tall, but it is known to exceed 22 meters. On Carson Ridge in Marin County, as well as Hood Mountain in Sonoma County, the species comprises a pygmy forest of trees which do not attain heights greater than 8-12 feet due to high serpentine concentrations in the soil.

Cupressus stephensonii is a species of conifer known as the Cuyamaca Cypress. It exists only in the headwaters of King Creek, south of Cuyamaca Peak in San Diego County, California. It was listed as a vulnerable species, but the last assessment occurred in 1998, before the entire world population of the tree was reduced to thirty or forty individuals by the 2003 Cedar Fire. Wolf reported trees as low as 3,000 feet in elevation but the presence of these individuals today has not been verified. Most individuals occur at 4,500 to 5,100 feet in King Creek Research Natural Area. Cupressus stephensonii may attain heights of 10 to 16 meter (33 to 52 feet). It usually forms a spreading tree with a central leader, only slightly taller than it is wide. Female cones about 10 millimeter in diameter, cone scales 6-8, but mostly 6, often, but not always, with conspicuous umbos 3-4 millimeter high and conical. Seeds average 100-125 per cone, not at all waxy pale. Cotyledons 3-4. It is the only California Cypress species to release pollen in the summertime.

Chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)  is a striking, drought-adapted plant known for its dramatic presence year-round and spectacular flowering display. The plant begins as a large, rounded rosette of silver-green, spiky leaves. When mature — typically after 5 to 6 years — it sends up an impressive flower spike that grows 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few weeks. The towering spike is covered with hundreds of bell-shaped flowers, ranging from white to pale purple, creating a stunning visual impact in the landscape.

Native to California and parts of Baja California, chaparral yucca thrives in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodland plant communities at elevations of 950 to 8,200 feet. It is well-adapted to rocky, dry soils and plays an important ecological role in its native habitat.

Chaparral yucca forms an exclusive pollinator relationship with the California Yucca Moth (Tegeticula maculata), making it a fascinating example of co-evolution. The moth is the plant's sole pollinator and relies on the yucca for its life cycle. The moth collects pollen from the flowers and deposits it on another flower’s stigma while laying its eggs inside the ovary. The developing moth larvae feed on some of the yucca seeds, while others are left to grow and disperse.

After the flowers are pollinated, the yucca plant dies, a process known as monocarpic reproduction. However, the dried flower stalk often remains standing for several years, creating a natural sculpture in the landscape. New plants emerge from seeds or from offsets at the plant’s base.

Chaparral yucca is also known by several common names, including our lord’s candle, Spanish bayonet, Quixote yucca, common yucca, and foothill yucca. Despite its beauty, it is reportedly difficult to grow outside its native range. However, when planted in the right conditions, it provides a bold accent in native gardens, particularly when combined with rocks or other drought-adapted plants. Care should be taken to place the plant away from pathways, as its sharply pointed leaves can cause injury.

This iconic plant is a resilient symbol of California’s rugged chaparral landscapes, offering both ecological value and ornamental appeal.

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), also known as Christmas Berry, is an evergreen shrub in the Rose family (Rosaceae). In the summer it produces bunches of fragrant white flowers. In the winter it develops vibrant clusters of scarlet berries. The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. The berries are eaten by many birds, including Mockingbirds, American Robins, and Cedar Waxwings. Mammals including coyotes and bears also eat and disperse the berries. For humans, the berries are edible after cooking, or drying and crushing, in order to break down the small amounts of cyanogenic glycosides. Indigenous People use the berries to make cider, and a granular sugar. 

Toyon is a prominent component of the Coastal Sage Scrub plant community, and is a part of drought-adapted Chaparral, Mixed Evergreen Forest and Oak Woodland habitats. Toyon are beautiful plants and easy to grow. If properly situated, they can grow very quickly, up to 10 feet in three years. They like sun or part shade, though they tend to do better in part shade in the southern, drier part of their geographic range. They can handle a wide variety of soils, including clay, sand and serpentine. They are an excellent hedge plant.

Horticultural selection from Heteromeles arbutifolia. A keystone shrub in the native landscape, Toyon (also known as Christmas Berry), is the common name for Heteromeles arbutifolia. Toyon is known as a dependable long lived shrub and valued for the visual appeal of its small white flowers in summer, persistent berries in the winter and evergreen foliage. A cultivar of Heteromeles arbutifolia var. cerina, 'Davis Gold' has striking yellow berries instead of the typical red, and has been noted as having improved resistance to disease. Toyons are very flexible when it comes to light exposure, growing best in sun but tolerating almost full shade. A classic wildlife attractor, birds in particular love to eat the golden berries that linger on the plant. 'Davis Gold' toyon has leathery serrated leaves 2 -4" long and grows well in sandy soils and on slopes with dry, well drained soils. 'Davis Gold' is excellent as a screening plant, hedge, or multi-trunk small tree, reaching a typical height and width of about 6 - 1 '; given ideal conditions and enough time it can grow to 15' or more.This is a selection introduced by UC Davis and it tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Heterotheca grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name Telegraph Weed. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, but it can be found in other areas as an introduced species, such as Hawaii. In California it is widespread from Butte County southward. It is a pioneer species and roadside weed even where it is native. This is a tall, bristly, hairy plant exceeding a meter in height and densely foliated in hairy to spiny toothed or lobed leaves. Leaves are smaller and more widely spaced toward the top of the stem, which is occupied by an flower cluster of bright yellow daisylike flower heads. The disc and ray florets drop away to leave a spherical head of achenes, each with a long white pappus. This plant is rarely used in the garden but is a useful for restoration projects.

Heterotheca monarchensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names monarch goldenaster and sequoia false goldenaster. It is endemic to Fresno County, California, where it is known from only one location near Boyden Cave in the Kings River Canyon. It grows in the limestone cliffs of this Sierra Nevada river canyon, along with a few other rare local endemics. The plant was discovered in July, 1995, and described to science as a new species in 1996. This is a perennial herb anchored in the rocky substrate by a taproot and producing one to many erect, spreading stems up to about 18 centimeters tall. The leaves have lance-shaped or oval blades which are densely hairy and bristly in texture, with some resin glands. They measure up to 2. 5 centimeters long by a few millimeters in width and do not become much smaller toward the ends of the branches. The inflorescence contains one to five flower heads, each with up to 19 yellow ray florets measuring 1 to 1. 5 centimeters in length. At the center are many hairy yellow disc florets.

Heterotheca oregona is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Oregon false goldenaster. It is native to the west coast of Canada and the United States in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California as far south as Los Angeles County. Heterotheca oregona is found in low-elevation mountain forests and chaparral, often near water. This is a perennial herb which is variable in appearance, with four somewhat indistinct Varieties: It reaches a maximum height of 20 centimeters (8 inches) to one meter (40 inches) , and is covered in small bristles. The inflorescence contains 1-15 flower heads in a flat-topped array. Each head has 14-60 yellowish disc florets but no ray florets. The fruit is an achene with a long grayish pappus.

Heterotheca sessiliflora is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family known by the common name False Goldenaster. It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows primarily along the coast, in the foothills and mountains, in many types of habitat. This is a perennial herb which is quite variable in appearance. There are four recognized subspecies which vary in morphology and geographic range. Depending on subspecies and location, it may be a small clumping or mat-forming plant or grow tall stems to heights exceeding a meter. It may appear as an annual or perennial herb. It is coated in small bristles or long woolly hairs and it is hairy, particularly around the flower cluster. The flower head contains long yellowish disc florets and the edge is fringed with yellow ray florets. Its most outstanding feature is nearly year-round flowering.

Bolander's Goldenaster (Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. bolanderi) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It tends to grow in dunes and grassy places, at elevations from 0-800 feet.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Bristly Goldenaster (Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. echioides) is a native perennial herb that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in dunes and grassy places, at elevations from 0-3600 feet.

False Bolander's Goldenaster (Heterotheca sessiliflora var. bolanderoides) is a native perennial herb that grows in central California.

Heterotheca shevockii is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Kern Canyon false goldenaster and Shevock's goldenaster. It is endemic to California in the United States, where it is known only from Kern County. It grows along a 21-mile stretch of the Kern River. Heterotheca shevockii is a perennial herb growing 28 to 131 centimeters (11. 2-52. 4 inches) in height, often with many erect stems. The stems are hairy to bristly. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 6. 5 centimeters (2. 6 inches) long by 1. 6 cm (0. 64 inches) wide. The inflorescence contains 3-70 flower heads borne on hairy, glandular peduncles. Each head contains up to 18 yellow ray florets each up to a centimeter long, and many disc florets at the center. The fruit is an achene which may be over a centimeter (>0. 4 inches) long including its pappus. Flowering occurs mostly in August and September, but it may be seen in flower between January and November.

Heterotheca subaxillaris, camphorweed, is a North American species of flowering plant in the aster family, common name . It is widespread across much of the United States (from California to Massachusetts) as well as Mexico and Belize. Heterotheca subaxillaris is a perennial, aromatic herb up to centimeters (80 inches or 6 2/3 feet) in height, often with several erect stems. The stems are hairy to bristly. The inflorescence contains 3-180 flower heads in a flat-topped array. Each head contains 15-35; yellow ray florets surrounding 25-60 disc florets at the center.

Camphor Weed (Heterotheca psammophila) is a uncommon native annual or perennial herb that grows in Southern California, primarily in the South Coast and Sonoran Desert regions. It tends to grow in disturbed or recently burned sandy places, at elevations from 0-1000 feet.

Hairy False Goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are yellow and striking, and bloom in the mid summer. Leaves are gray-green and deciduous. It tends to grow in crevices, at elevations from 1300-10200 feet.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Heuchera micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name crevice alumroot. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows on rocky slopes and cliffs. Within California it is found primarily in the central and northern Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills.This plant is quite variable in appearance. There are a number of wild and cultivated Varieties: The leaves are lobed and usually coated in glandular hairs. They are green to reddish-green or purple-green in color and may have very long, gland-dotted petioles. The plant produces an erect flower cluster up to a meter high bearing many clusters of pink, white, or greenish flowers. Each rounded flower has fleshy, hairy lobes tipped with tiny petals and protruding stamens and stigma.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade or shade in coastal sites, and shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Hibiscus denudatus (common names: Paleface, Rock Hibiscus) is a perennial shrub of the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is in the rosemallow genus, Hibiscus. It is found in the southwest of North America in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico in the states of extreme southeast California, southern Nevada, southern Arizona and New Mexico, southwest Texas, Baja California-north, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila. It can be found in the Colorado and Sonoran Deserts, and in the east to the Chihuahuan Desert.

Hibiscus lasiocarpos (also, H. lasiocarpus orth. var. ) is a species of hibiscus known by the common name hairy-fruited hibiscus. It is also one of several hibiscus called rosemallow. It is native to much of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of California and northern Mexico. It is a large, bushy perennial herb with sprawling stems reaching one to two meters long. The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed, and pointed, and generally between 6 and 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence holds large showy, solitary flowers. Each flower has a cup of partly fused sepals beneath a layer of slender bracts. These may be covered in hairs or woolly fibers. The flower's large petals may be up to 10 centimeters long and are generally bright white with red bases. The stamen tube and anthers are white or cream. The fruit is a capsule 2. 5-3 centimeters long containing spherical seeds.

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley regions. It tends to grow in marshes and wet places, at elevations from - feet.

The common wildflower Hieracium albiflorum is known by the names white hawkweed and white-flowered hawkweed. It is found in western North America, from Alaska to California and east to the Rockies. Some hawkweeds were introduced to North America and are invasive weeds in the region, but white hawkweed is native and is a part of the balanced ecology. It is shaped like a dandelion, with hairy, elliptical leaves and long stalks that bear small white flowers with serrated petals. The plant is found in forests and woodlands at low to moderate elevation.

Hieracium argutum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name southern hawkweed. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in coastal and inland hills and mountains, often in oak woodland and pine forest habitat. Hieracium argutum is a perennial herb producing a mostly erect stem which is very hairy on the lower part and becomes nearly hairless toward the tip. The plant grows 60 centimeters to one meter tall. The deeply toothed leaves are covered in long hairs. The largest leaves at the base of the stem may reach 16 centimeters. There may be shorter leaves on the lower part of the stem and there are few or none on the upper part. The inflorescence is a wide open array of many flower heads, each up to about a centimeter wide. The flower head is lined with hairy, often glandular phyllaries and filled with many yellow ray florets and no disc florets. The fruit is a small, dark cylindrical achene topped with a pappus of brown bristles.

Hieracium horridum, known as the prickly hawkweed or shaggy hawkweed, gets its name from the long, dense, shaggy white to brown hairs (trichomes) which cover all of the plant parts of this plant species. The species is native to Oregon, California, and Nevada in the western United States. Hieracium horridum possesses oblong leaves along the stems of this 4 inches (10 cm) to 15 inches (38 cm) tall hairy plant with 11-12 bright yellow flower heads at the top of each flower head, which is 0. 315 inches (8 mm) to 0. 354 inches (9 mm) in diameter. It flowers between late June and August. Hieracium horridum's habitat is in dry rocky places within mountainous coniferous forests in Oregon, California and Nevada at elevations between 5,000 feet (1,524 m) and 12,000 feet (3,658 m).

Hieracium nudicaule is a North American plant species in the dandelion tribe within the sunflower family. It grows only in the western United States, primarily in California and Oregon, though with a few populations in Washington and northern Idaho. Hieracium nudicaule is an herb up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, with leaves on the stem and also in a rosette at the bottom. Leaves are up to 120 mm (4. 7 in) long, sometimes with teeth on the edges. One stalk can produce 2-12 flower heads in an flat-topped array. Each head has 20-40 yellow ray flowers but no disc flowers.

Hieracium triste is a North American species of hawkweed known by the common name woolly hawkweed. It is widespread across western Canada and the western United States from Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Territories south as far as California and New Mexico. Hieracium triste is a perennial herb. It produces a milky latex that often is described erroneously as sap. It is 3-35 cm (1. 2-13. 8 in) tall and is unbranched. The stem has long hairs and some hairs that look like stars. The entire plant rarely grows more than 30 cm (12 in; 1 ft) tall. Leaves. Hieracium triste has basal leaves that are often in a rosette. The leaves look similar to a spoon and are 1-8 cm (0. 39-3. 15 in) long and 0. 3-1. 2 cm (0. 12-0. 47 in) wide. Most leaves are either hairless or have short hairs. Flowers. Each plant usually only contains one to two flowers. They are yellow and often look like dandelions. They have bracts around each flower that have grey star shaped hairs and long black gland tipped hairs. These flowers bloom from June to August. Habitat. Slender hawkweed grows in moist to wet open sites. It grows in mid-montane to alpine areas. It is most commonly seen below the timberline in areas with whitebark pine and alpine larch. It likes dry sites at lower elevations from Southern Colorado to Wyoming.

Hoita macrostachya is a species of legume known by the common name large leatherroot. It is native to California and Baja California where it can be found in moist areas of a number of habitat types. This is a hairy, hairy perennial herb producing a tall, branching stem approaching two meters in maximum height. The sparse, widely spaced leaves are each made up of three leaflets up to 10 centimeters long each attached to a long petiole. The leaflet blades are hairy. The plant produces many clublike raceme flower clusters on sturdy stalks from the stem. The flower cluster contains many purplish pealike flowers. The fruit is a hairy, veiny brown legume pod under a centimeter long containing a kidney-shaped seed.

Hoita orbicularis is a species of legume known by the common name roundleaf leatherroot. It is endemic to California, where it is relatively widespread throughout the state's mountain ranges, growing most often in moist habitat. It is a perennial herb growing prostrate or nearly so at ground level with large leaves each made up of three round leaflets up to 11 centimeters long each. The herbage is hairy and often hairy. The flower cluster is an erect raceme which may be up to 35 centimeters long. Each of the many flowers is one or two centimeters long, pealike, and generally a shade of light to medium purple in color. The fruit is a hairy, veiny legume pod just under a centimeter long.

Cream Bush (also called Ocean Spray) is famous for its cascading clusters of fragrant, creamy white flowers. These lovely blooms attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. After blooming, the seeds provide food for birds, and the plant itself provides shelter for birds and small animals.

Cream Bush is an attractive deciduous shrub, commonly found in forest and woodland environments. In the garden, it does well in shade or part shade and adapts to a variety of soil types. Water needs are moderate, and it can enjoy supplemental irrigation in drier areas.

Desert Ocean Spray (Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in rocky places and outcrops, at elevations from 2000-9500 feet.

Little Leaf Creambush (Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in rocky places and outcrops, at elevations from 3900-13100 feet.

Hooveria parviflora is a species of perennial herb in the lily family known by the common name smallflower soap plant. It is a monocot native to coastal southern California and Baja California, where it is a member of the coastal sage scrub flora. This perennial wildflower grows from a dark-coated bulb several centimeters wide. The basal leaves have wavy edges. The flower cluster may reach 90 centimeters tall and is made up of many dark-veined white or pinkish flowers. Each flower has six petals just under a centimeter long which are spread open for only one day. The six stamens are tipped with yellow anthers. The fruit is a capsule a few millimeters long.

Hooveria purpurea is a species of flowering plant related to the agaves known by the common name purple amole. This species of soap plant is endemic to California where it grows in the mountain ranges of the Central Coast. There are two varieties of this plant, and both are believed to be quite rare. It is a federally listed threatened species. This is a perennial plant growing from a bulb about 3 centimeters in diameter. The narrow, wavy leaves grow at the base of the stem. The leaves are bright green and have thick midribs. There are usually one to eight leaves, but plants with up to fourteen have been noted. The stem bears flowers at widely spaced nodes. Each flower has curled tepals each less than a centimeter long in shades of blue or purple; all other Chlorogalum species have white or pink flowers. The flowers have long stamens with yellow anthers around a protruding style. The two varieties of the species can be told apart by their sizes; var. purpureum (the variety usually called purple amole) grows up to 40 centimeters tall and var. reductum (Camatta Canyon amole) reaches only 20 centimeters. About 90% of the plants are of var. purpureum. Ecology and distribution. This is a plant of the Mediterranean climate with hot, rainless summers and wet winters. Purple amole, var. purpureum, is endemic to the Santa Lucia Range of Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. It is known from only two locations, the Army installation Fort Hunter Liggett and the National Guard post Camp Roberts. There are a total of four populations, probably totalling under 10,000 total individuals. The habitat is grassland with patches of oak woodland.

Hordeum arizonicum is a species of wild barley known by the common name Arizona barley. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in wet spots in desert regions, such as irrigation ditches. It can grow in somewhat saline soils. This is an annual or perennial grass forming erections 20 to 70 cm high. The inflorescence is a spike up to about 12 cm long made up of spikelets up to about 3 cm long each, usually tipped with awns.

Hordeum brachyantherum is a species of barley known by the common name meadow barley. It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, far eastern Russia, and parts of eastern North America. It can be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species. This is a tufting perennial grass approaching a meter in maximum height. It produces compact, narrow flower clusters 8 to 10 centimeters long and purplish in color. Like other barleys the spikelets come in triplets. It has two small, often sterile lateral spikelets on pedicels and a larger, fertile central spikelet lacking a pedicel.

Meadow Barley (Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. brachyantherum) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in meadows, pastures and streambanks, at elevations from 0-11200 feet.

California Meadow Barley (Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is fast growing and short-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 1.6 feet, with active growth during the spring. Flowers are yellow and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in meadows, pastures and streambanks, at elevations from 0-8500 feet.

Hordeum depressum is a species of barley known by the common names low barley and dwarf barley. It is native to the western United States from Idaho to California, where it can be found in moist habitats such as vernal pools. This is a small annual grass forming petite patches of thin, hairy leaves and erect stems to half a meter in maximum height. The green or reddish green flower cluster is 2 to 6 centimeters long and about half a centimeter wide. Like other barleys the spikelets come in triplets. There is a large fertile central spikelet about a centimeter long and two smaller, often sterile spikelets on pedicels, each 3 to 5 millimeters long.

Hordeum intercedens is an uncommon species of wild barley known by the common names bobtail barley and vernal barley. It is native to southern California and northern Baja California, where it is an increasingly rare member of the flora in saline and alkaline soils near seasonal waterflows and vernal pool habitat. Today most occurrences are located on the Channel Islands of California; many of the occurrences known from the mainland have been extirpated in the process of land development. This is an annual grass growing erect to bent in small tufts with stems up to 40 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a green spike up to 6.5 centimeters long made up of awned spikelets between 1 and 2 centimeters long.

Hordeum jubatum (Foxtail barley) is a perennials plant species in the grass family Poaceae. It occurs wild mainly in northern North America and adjacent northeastern Siberia. However, as it escaped often from gardens it can be found world-wide in areas with temperate to warm climates, and is considered a weed in many countries. The species is a polyploid and originated via hybridization of an East Asian Hordeum species with a close but extinct relative of Californian H. brachyantherum. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive flower clusters and when done flowering for its infructescence. Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) propagates by seed. It is known for its ability to tolerate saline soils but is capable of productive growth on soil types ranging from loamy to clayey soils with pH's of 6.4 to 9.5. The upper limit of soil NaCl for productive growth and development is 1.0%. Foxtail barley is also adapted to a wide range of moisture regimes from dry to wet. Although this species is generally found on moist sites, it can withstand drought-like conditions. It is commonly found in lowland areas with restricted soil drainage, disturbed sites, waste areas and fields. Foxtail barley is a pioneer species or invader in disturbed areas and in areas with high salinity. It is among the first grasses to establish after disturbance and rapidly invades areas exposed by a receding water table.

Horkelia bolanderi is a rare species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common names border horkelia and Bolander's horkelia. It is endemic to northern California where it is known from only a few occurrences in two or three counties. It grows in the mountain forests of the North Coast Ranges. This is a mat-forming gray-green perennial herb producing hairy erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall. The leaves are 3 to 8 centimeters long and are made up of hairy, toothed leaflets each one half to one centimeter long. The inflorescence holds several flowers, each with five white petals and up to 20 pistils in the center.

Horkelia californica is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name California horkelia. It is endemic to California, where it grows on scrubby coastal and inland mountain slopes. This is a clumping perennial herb producing erect green stems variable in height from 10 centimeters to over a meter. The green leaves are up to 40 centimeters long and are made up of hairy, rounded, toothed leaflets each up to 6 centimeters in length. The flower cluster holds solitary and clustered flowers, each with toothed leaflets and thick, pointed sepals. There are five small white petals.

California Horkelia (Horkelia californica ssp. californica) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central California, primarily in the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It tends to grow in open and north facings slopes and streambanks, at elevations from 0-1300 feet.

Horkelia clevelandii is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name Cleveland's horkelia. It is native to the Peninsular Ranges of southern California and northern Baja California. This is a perennial herb forming clumps of long, fernlike leaves and erect stems. The leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of triangular to rounded leaflets, each toothed or lobed and covered in thin hairs. The narrow stems reach 10 to 50 centimeters in height and bear flower clusters of several flowers. Each flower has hairy, lance-shaped leaflets and pointed sepals. The narrow oval petals are white. The center of the flower contains ten stamens and up to 50 pistils.

There are many species of Horkelia in California, and the genus has undergone some taxonomic revision. For information regarding other species and varieties of Horkelia, please refer to Calflora.org or the Jepson Manual.