Claytonia washingtoniana
Suksdorf's spring beauty
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Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Claytonia washingtoniana (Suksdorf's spring beauty) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by leaf shape, fusion pattern, and inflorescence structure.
Suksdorf's spring beauty is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges in generally shady moist woodland, streambanks, and seeps at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from January to June, this delicate plant produces pale pink flowers 4 to 5 millimeters long in small clusters of 5 to 25 blooms. Growing with spreading to erect stems 6 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms distinctive basal leaves with widely diamond-shaped blades 1 to 5 centimeters long. Its leaves have a characteristic wedge-shaped or truncate base with an acute tip, ranging from basal leaves up to 30 centimeters long to smaller cauline leaves that are widely ovate and sessile. The tiny seeds are elliptic, measuring 1.5 to 2 millimeters and appearing either shiny or dull.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are leaf shape, fusion pattern, and inflorescence structure
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally shady moist woodland, streambanks, seeps
Elevation: < 150 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Claytonia washingtoniana blooms Jan-Jun.
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 washingtoniana native to California?
Yes. Claytonia washingtoniana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Claytonia washingtoniana bloom?
Claytonia washingtoniana blooms Jan-Jun.
What plant family does Claytonia washingtoniana belong to?
Claytonia washingtoniana is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
What habitat does Claytonia washingtoniana grow in?
Claytonia washingtoniana grows in Generally shady moist woodland, streambanks, seeps.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Claytonia cordifolia — Heart leaf spring beauty
- Claytonia crawfordii — Crawford's spring beauty
- Claytonia exigua — Little spring beauty
- Claytonia exigua subsp. exigua
- Claytonia exigua subsp. glauca
- Claytonia gypsophiloides — Gypsum spring beauty
- Lewisia brachycalyx — Short-sepaled lewisia
- Lewisia cantelovii — Cantelow's lewisia
- Lewisia congdonii — Congdon's lewisia
- Lewisia cotyledon — Cliff maids
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.