Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Orthocarpus luteus is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common name yellow owl's clover. It is native to much of western and central North America, where it grows in many types of plateau, grassland, and mountain habitat. It is an annual herb producing a slender, hairy, hairy, bright yellowish green to deep purple stem up to about 40 centimeters tall. The narrow leaves are up to 5 centimeters long, the upper ones sometimes divided into three lobes. The flower cluster is a dense cylindrical spike of green leafs, the flowers emerging from between them. The lightly hairy flowers are 1 to 1.5 centimeters long and bright yellow in color. They are club-shaped, the upper lip a tiny, curving beak and the lower lip a narrow pouch.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

10 - 18 in Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Summer

Sun

Partial Shade

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Site type

Moist places

Plant communities

Northern Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 3 likely

Confirmed Likely

Adela flammeusella

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

Edith's Checkerspot

Euphydryas editha