Claytonia peirsonii subsp. bernardinus

San bernardino spring beauty

Family: Montiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

San bernardino spring beauty is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Transverse Ranges in openings of pinyon-juniper and white fir-limber pine mixed associations on north-facing stony slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with faint pink veining and a yellow base, delicately arranged in small clusters. Growing with erect stems 2.5 to 5.5 centimeters tall, it emerges from stony carbonate-rich substrates like limestone and marble. Its cauline leaves are narrow and linear, measuring 13 to 35 millimeters long, with distinctive reddish primary veins visible on the leaf surface. The plant thrives in areas with decomposing organic material, often nestled in rocky openings of mixed mountain woodlands.

Habitat: Openings of pinyon-juniper and white fir-limber pine mixed associations, on north-facing stony and talus slopes of carbonate-dominated sedimentary (or metasedimentary) substrates (e.g. limestone, marble) often with decomposing organic material

Bloom period: Mar-May

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.