Claytonia cordifolia
Heart leaf spring beauty
(c) John A Haskins, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Claytonia cordifolia (Heart leaf spring beauty) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by distinctive heart-shaped leaves separate from narrow-leaved congeners.
Heart leaf spring beauty is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,200 to 2,300 meters in shaded swamps, streambanks, seeps, and wet meadows. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate white flowers 8 to 13 millimeters long in small clusters of 3 to 12 blooms. Growing with erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops a short horizontal caudex and long rhizomes with bulb-like buds. Its distinctive leaves include basal blades 1 to 9 centimeters long, widely ovate with truncate or heart-shaped bases and obtuse to acute tips. The plant produces tiny round, shiny seeds about 1.5 to 2 millimeters in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinctive heart-shaped leaves separate from narrow-leaved congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally shaded swamps, streambanks, seeps, wet meadows
Elevation: 1200-2300 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Del Norte, Humboldt, Plumas, Tehama, Trinity
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Utah
Bloom period
Claytonia cordifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Montia: Claytonia has just 2 stem leaves opposite or fused; Montia has multiple stem leaves arranged alternately.; vs Stellaria: Claytonia has 2 broad stem leaves and 5 petals; Stellaria has many narrow opposite leaves and deeply notched petals.; vs Hydrocotyle: Claytonia has 5-petaled flowers above paired stem leaves; Hydrocotyle has round shield-like leaves and tiny flower clusters.; vs Lewisia: Claytonia has thin leaves on upright stems in moist areas; Lewisia forms succulent rosettes on rocky cliffs.; vs Dichondra: Claytonia has upright stems with 5-petaled flowers; Dichondra is a creeping plant with kidney-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claytonia cordifolia native to California?
Yes. Claytonia cordifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Claytonia cordifolia bloom?
Claytonia cordifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Claytonia cordifolia grow?
Claytonia cordifolia occurs in Siskiyou, Del Norte, Humboldt, Plumas, Tehama, Trinity, at elevations of 1200-2300 m.
What plant family does Claytonia cordifolia belong to?
Claytonia cordifolia is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
What habitat does Claytonia cordifolia grow in?
Claytonia cordifolia grows in Generally shaded swamps, streambanks, seeps, wet meadows.
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.