Baker’s Stickyseed: A Rare Gem of California’s Vernal Pools
If you’ve never heard of Baker’s stickyseed (Blennosperma bakeri), you’re not alone. This tiny annual wildflower is one of California’s most endangered botanical treasures, clinging to existence in a handful of vernal pools in Sonoma County. While most gardeners won’t be growing this rare beauty in their backyard, understanding its story helps us appreciate the incredible diversity and fragility of California’s native plant communities.
What Makes Baker’s Stickyseed Special?
Baker’s stickyseed is a small, unassuming annual herb that belongs to California’s unique vernal pool flora. These temporary wetlands fill with winter rains and gradually dry out through spring and summer, creating a specialized habitat that supports an amazing array of endemic plants found nowhere else on earth.
This little plant produces tiny white flowers during its brief growing season, typically blooming from March to May when the vernal pools are at their most spectacular. The flowers attract small native bees and flies that have co-evolved with vernal pool ecosystems.
Where Does It Grow?
Baker’s stickyseed is endemic to California, with its entire world population restricted to vernal pools in Sonoma County. This incredibly limited geographic distribution makes it one of the rarest plants in North America.
A Plant in Crisis
Here’s where the story gets sobering: Baker’s stickyseed has a Global Conservation Status of S1, meaning it’s critically imperiled with typically fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. It’s officially listed as Endangered in Sonoma County, and habitat loss continues to threaten the few remaining populations.
The plant’s obligate wetland status means it absolutely requires the specific conditions found in vernal pools – seasonal flooding followed by complete drying, specific soil types, and the complex ecological relationships that make these temporary wetlands function.
Why You Shouldn’t (and Probably Can’t) Grow It
While we typically encourage gardeners to grow native plants, Baker’s stickyseed presents several important considerations:
- Conservation concern: With so few plants left in the wild, any collection could impact wild populations
- Extremely specialized requirements: This plant needs the precise seasonal flooding and drying cycles of vernal pools
- Legal protection: As an endangered species, collection from wild populations is prohibited
- Lack of available seed: No commercial sources exist for this rare species
What Gardeners Can Do Instead
If you’re inspired by Baker’s stickyseed and want to support California’s unique flora, consider these alternatives:
- Support conservation organizations working to protect vernal pool habitats
- Plant other native annuals that support similar pollinators, such as goldfields (Lasthenia species) or popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys species)
- Create seasonal wetland features in your garden to support native amphibians and insects
- Visit and learn about protected vernal pool sites during wildflower season
The Bigger Picture
Baker’s stickyseed reminds us that not every native plant is suitable for cultivation – and that’s okay. Some plants serve as ambassadors for entire ecosystems, highlighting the importance of protecting wild spaces rather than bringing everything into our gardens.
California’s vernal pools are among the most endangered ecosystems in North America, with over 95% already lost to development and agriculture. The few remaining pools support not just Baker’s stickyseed, but dozens of other rare and endemic species that exist nowhere else on Earth.
By learning about plants like Baker’s stickyseed, we develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity and fragility of natural systems. Sometimes the best way to grow a plant is to protect the wild places where it belongs.
Garden Takeaway
While you won’t find Baker’s stickyseed at your local nursery (and shouldn’t seek it out), its story can inspire your native gardening journey. Focus on locally appropriate native plants that you can grow responsibly, and remember that every garden supporting native species contributes to the broader conservation picture. Sometimes the rarest flowers are the ones we must love from a distance.
