Cassiope mertensiana
White heather, White Heather
(c) Jacy Chen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cassiope mertensiana (White heather) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by Range edge species - genus extends north to Alaska but this is the southernmost species reaching California's high mountains.
White heather is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada Highlands on moist, subalpine slopes and rocky areas with late snow at elevations of 1,800 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate white bell-shaped flowers with five distinct lobes. Growing as a low, densely branched shrub less than 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters with fine, glabrous or slightly hairy stems. Its distinctive leaves are small and boat-shaped, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters long, with overlapping elliptic blades that are leathery and concave, featuring entire margins that are sometimes minutely ciliate or glandular. In alpine environments, this diminutive shrub creates intricate, tightly packed cushions of white-flowered vegetation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Range edge species - genus extends north to Alaska but this is the southernmost species reaching California's high mountains
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, subalpine slopes, around rocks, areas of late snow
Elevation: 1800-3505 m
California counties: Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Alpine, Nevada, Madera, Trinity, Shasta, Mariposa, Tulare, Placer, Plumas, Amador, Sierra
Outside California: to Alaska, western Canada, Montana
Bloom period
Cassiope mertensiana blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Rhododendron: Cassiope has scale-like leaves 2-5mm pressed to stem; Rhododendron has broad spreading leaves.; vs Menziesia: Cassiope has tiny appressed opposite leaves; Menziesia has broad spreading alternate leaves.; vs Phyllodoce: Cassiope has opposite scale leaves pressed to stem; Phyllodoce has alternate needle leaves spreading out.; vs Kalmia: Cassiope has solitary bell flowers; Kalmia has cup flowers with anther pockets.; vs Leucothoe: Cassiope has tiny scale leaves under 5mm; Leucothoe has large spreading leaves 15-80mm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cassiope mertensiana native to California?
Yes. Cassiope mertensiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cassiope mertensiana bloom?
Cassiope mertensiana blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Cassiope mertensiana grow?
Cassiope mertensiana occurs in Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Alpine, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1800-3505 m.
What plant family does Cassiope mertensiana belong to?
Cassiope mertensiana is in the Ericaceae family, genus Cassiope.
What habitat does Cassiope mertensiana grow in?
Cassiope mertensiana grows in Moist, subalpine slopes, around rocks, areas of late snow.
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.