Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii
Peirson's spring beauty, Peirson’s spring beauty
Photo: parent species Claytonia peirsonii · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii (Peirson's spring beauty) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family.
Peirson's spring beauty is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino Mountains in mixed conifer, subalpine forest, pinyon-juniper, and oak woodland at elevations of 1,510 to 2,745 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white flowers with faint pink veins and yellow to orange bases, delicate and softly colored. Growing with slender stems 5 to 18 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive beet-red coloration on leaf undersides. Its basal leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate, 10 to 35 millimeters long and 5 to 7 millimeters wide, with cauline leaves often asymmetric and ovate to lance-ovate. The plant typically grows on north-facing stony slopes with alkali-rich substrates like granite and gneiss, often nestled among organic material.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated endemic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings and under closed canopy of mixed conifer and subalpine forest down to pinyon-juniper and oak woodland, generally on north-facing stony and talus slopes of mainly alkali-rich substrates (e.g. gneiss, granite, schist) often mixed with organic material
Elevation: 1510-2745 m.
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Bloom period
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 peirsonii subsp. peirsonii native to California?
Yes. Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii bloom?
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii grow?
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1510-2745 m..
What plant family does Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii belong to?
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
Is Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii rare or endangered?
Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CDFW CNDDB
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.