Orthocarpus cuspidatus, commonly known as Copeland’s owl’s clover, Siskiyou Mountains orthocarpus, or toothed owl’s-clover, is an annual herb native to the serpentine soils of mountain meadows and plateau habitats in Oregon, California, and Nevada. It typically grows up to 16 inches tall and features a slender, glandular, hairy, purple-green stem with narrow leaves. The inflorescence is a dense spike of green bracts with showy pinkish flowers that emerge between them, blooming from late spring to early summer.

Copeland’s owl’s clover is valued for its unique appearance and its ability to thrive in the challenging conditions of serpentine soils, which are often poor in nutrients and high in heavy metals. It is used in wildflower gardens and as part of restoration projects to stabilize soils and support native pollinators. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and requires well-drained soils with low fertility. It is relatively low maintenance, but due to its specific soil requirements, it may not be suitable for all garden settings. While not commonly afflicted by diseases, it can be sensitive to overwatering and nutrient-rich soils.CC BY-SA 4.0