Boykinia major
Large boykinia
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Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Boykinia major (Large boykinia) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by (B. occidentalis). Clear size and leaf division differences.
Large boykinia is a California native perennial found in the northern Klamath Ranges, northern North Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in shaded, moist meadows and streambanks at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers in flat-topped clusters with petals 5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with stout stems 20 to 130 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive leaf stipules up to 1 centimeter long with sharp-tipped edges. Its leaves are large, typically 9 to 50 centimeters long, divided more than halfway to the base with relatively straight-sided lobes and teeth. The plant's leaf blades are less than 20 centimeters wide, with prominent petioles ranging from 5 to 35 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (B. occidentalis). Clear size and leaf division differences.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded, moist meadows, streambanks
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Madera, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Calaveras, Butte, Del Norte, Trinity, Placer, Humboldt, Mariposa, Shasta, Plumas, Nevada, Tuolumne, Sierra, Lassen
Outside California: to Washington, Montana
Bloom period
Boykinia major blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Heuchera: Boykinia has large leaves over 4 cm and flat-topped clusters; Heuchera has smaller leaves and branched pyramids; vs Glechoma: Boykinia has flat-topped flower clusters; Glechoma has small paired flowers in leaf axils along square stems; vs Saxifraga: Boykinia has large rounded leaves over 4 cm; Saxifraga has small narrow leaves under 2 cm; vs Tiarella: Boykinia has flat-topped flower clusters; Tiarella has bottlebrush-like spikes; vs Micranthes: Boykinia leaves are over 4 cm with open lobes; Micranthes leaves are under 4 cm with rounded teeth
Frequently asked questions
Is Boykinia major native to California?
Yes. Boykinia major is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boykinia major bloom?
Boykinia major blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Boykinia major grow?
Boykinia major occurs in Madera, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Calaveras, Butte, Del Norte, Trinity, Placer and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Boykinia major belong to?
Boykinia major is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Boykinia.
What habitat does Boykinia major grow in?
Boykinia major grows in Shaded, moist meadows, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.