Chaparral lotus
Acmispon grandiflorus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 18"–30" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA sprawling, wiry-stemmed perennial with small trifoliate leaves and clusters of large yellow pea-like flowers that fade to orange-red as they age, giving the plant a bicolor look. Grows loosely along dry slopes and roadsides.
Wildlife value
Host plant for acmon blue.
A larval host for acmon blue butterflies and a nectar source for native bees during spring bloom.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chaparral lotus need?
- Chaparral lotus grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Chaparral lotus bloom?
- Chaparral lotus blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Chaparral lotus native?
- Chaparral lotus (Acmispon grandiflorus) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Chaparral lotus host?
- Chaparral lotus is a larval host plant for acmon blue.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
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