Claytonia sibirica
Candy flower
(c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Claytonia sibirica (Candy flower) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by branched inflorescence and colonial habit distinctive.
Candy flower is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, and San Francisco Bay Area in shady moist woodlands, streambanks, and marshes at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from February to August, this delicate plant produces pale pink flowers 6 to 12 millimeters long in small clusters of 10 to 20 blossoms. Growing with spreading to erect stems 5 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops short rhizomes that can form offset rosettes. Its leaves range from basal oblanceolate blades 3 to 30 centimeters long to smaller cauline leaves 1 to 8 centimeters long, with some petioles featuring distinctive bulb-like bases. The plant produces small round to elliptic seeds 1.5 to 2 millimeters long with a shiny or dull surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; branched inflorescence and colonial habit distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally shady moist woodland, streambanks, marshes
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Del Norte, Marin, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Trinity, Tulare, Butte, Santa Clara, Tehama, El Dorado, Shasta
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Siberia (Komandorski Islands)
Bloom period
Claytonia sibirica blooms Feb-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 sibirica native to California?
Yes. Claytonia sibirica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Claytonia sibirica bloom?
Claytonia sibirica blooms Feb-Aug.
Where in California does Claytonia sibirica grow?
Claytonia sibirica occurs in Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Del Norte, Marin, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Claytonia sibirica belong to?
Claytonia sibirica is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
What habitat does Claytonia sibirica grow in?
Claytonia sibirica grows in Generally shady moist woodland, streambanks, marshes.
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.