Warty Caltrop
Kallstroemia parviflora
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
4"–16" H × 6"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, IL and 8 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Warty caltrop is a low-growing annual wildflower that spreads along the ground with small orange or yellow blooms from summer through fall. This native plant thrives in hot, dry conditions and requires minimal water once established. As an annual, it will reseed naturally in favorable conditions.
In an HOA neighborhood
Warty Caltrop takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Low prostrate growth appears weedy
- Common name includes 'caltrop' which sounds undesirable
- Annual lifecycle creates gaps in landscape design
Wildlife value
The long blooming period from June through October provides nectar for native bees and beetles when many other plants have finished flowering.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Warty Caltrop fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.