Chamaebatia foliolosa
Mountain misery, Mountain Misery
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Chamaebatia foliolosa (Mountain misery) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species - geographically isolated in Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges.
Mountain misery is a California native shrub found in the Cascade Ranges and Sierra Nevada in conifer forest at elevations of 600 to 2,350 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with petals 6 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with low, extensively colonial stems featuring distinctive dark red-brown bark, it forms dense ground-covering patches. Its compound leaves are 2 to 10 centimeters long, with numerous small leaflets that create a finely textured green carpet. The plant's hypanthium measures approximately 5 to 6 millimeters, with sepals around 5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species - geographically isolated in Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest
Elevation: 600-2350 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer, Calaveras, Sierra, El Dorado, Amador, Nevada, Tuolumne, Shasta, Madera, Kern, Butte, Lassen, Yuba, Alpine, Los Angeles, Plumas, San Diego, Inyo, Humboldt, Kings, Sacramento
Bloom period
Chamaebatia foliolosa blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Chamaebatiaria: Chamaebatia has more finely divided leaves and produces single-seeded achenes; desertsweet has fewer, larger leaf segments and pod-like follicles.; vs Achillea: Chamaebatia is a woody shrub with single white flowers; yarrow is herbaceous with dense flat-topped flower clusters.; vs Phacelia: Chamaebatia has white flowers and aromatic sticky foliage; Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and lacks strong scent.; vs Drymocallis: Chamaebatia has fern-like leaves divided into tiny segments; Drymocallis has larger, toothed leaflets.; vs Purshia: Chamaebatia has finely divided fern-like leaves; Purshia has wedge-shaped leaves with 3-9 lobes only at tip.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chamaebatia foliolosa native to California?
Yes. Chamaebatia foliolosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chamaebatia foliolosa bloom?
Chamaebatia foliolosa blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Chamaebatia foliolosa grow?
Chamaebatia foliolosa occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Placer, Calaveras, Sierra, El Dorado, Amador and other counties, at elevations of 600-2350 m.
What plant family does Chamaebatia foliolosa belong to?
Chamaebatia foliolosa is in the Rosaceae family, genus Chamaebatia.
What habitat does Chamaebatia foliolosa grow in?
Chamaebatia foliolosa grows in Conifer forest.
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.