Coptis laciniata
Oregon goldthread, Oregon Goldthread
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Coptis laciniata (Oregon goldthread) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by Only Coptis in California, representing a small northern genus reaching its southern Pacific coast limit.
Oregon goldthread is a California native perennial found in northern coastal and western Klamath Range bioregions in wet sites, seeps, streambanks, and conifer forests at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive thread-like petals. Growing with slender pale brown rhizomes 11 to 24 centimeters tall, it forms delicate clusters of foliage. Its leaves are composed of 3 to 8 intricate ternate leaflets with ovate to triangular shapes, each leaflet having deeply irregular three-lobed edges. The plant produces 5 to 11 small fruits on short stalks, each developing after its delicate white blossom.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Coptis in California, representing a small northern genus reaching its southern Pacific coast limit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet sites, seeps, streambanks, conifer forest
Elevation: 500-2000 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Coptis laciniata blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Aquilegia: Coptis has leafless flower stalks and narrow linear sepals; Aquilegia has leafy stems and large spurred petals.; vs Enemion: Coptis has leafless flower stalks from slender runners; Enemion has leafy stems from clusters of fleshy fusiform roots.; vs Caltha: Coptis has narrow linear sepals and tiny petals; Caltha has broad showy sepals and no petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coptis laciniata native to California?
Yes. Coptis laciniata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Coptis laciniata bloom?
Coptis laciniata blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Coptis laciniata belong to?
Coptis laciniata is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Coptis.
Is Coptis laciniata rare or endangered?
Coptis laciniata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3?.
What habitat does Coptis laciniata grow in?
Coptis laciniata grows in Wet sites, seeps, streambanks, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · 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.