Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii
Ewan's woodbeauty, Ewan's Woodbeauty
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii (Ewan's woodbeauty) is a native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by very small size and specific habitat.
Ewan's woodbeauty is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the San Gabriel Mountains near Mount Islip in seep and small waterway edges at elevations of 1,900 to 2,450 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers on delicate stems rising just 5 to 20 centimeters tall. Growing with compact, low-spreading growth, it forms small clusters of slender stems emerging from its base. Its basal leaves feature distinctive wedge-shaped to nearly round terminal leaflets measuring 6 to 15 millimeters long, creating a delicate, intricate foliage pattern. The tiny fruits are less than one millimeter in size, contributing to the plant's diminutive and understated character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinguished by very small size and specific habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Edges of seeps, small waterways
Elevation: 1900-2450 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Bloom period
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Potentilla: Drymocallis has club-shaped styles thickest in the middle; Potentilla has slender styles throughout.; vs Fragaria: Drymocallis has yellow-white flowers and dry achenes; Fragaria has white flowers and red fleshy fruits.; vs Horkelia: Drymocallis has swollen fusiform styles; Horkelia has flattened filaments forming a tube around pistils.; vs Rubus: Drymocallis has simple yellow flowers and herbaceous stems; Rubus has aggregate white-pink flowers and woody stems.; vs Dasiphora: Drymocallis has herbaceous stems and fusiform styles; Dasiphora is a woody shrub with slender styles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii native to California?
Yes. Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii bloom?
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii grow?
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of 1900-2450 m.
What plant family does Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii belong to?
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii is in the Rosaceae family, genus Drymocallis.
Is Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii rare or endangered?
Drymocallis cuneifolia var. ewanii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Drymocallis glandulosa — Sticky cinquefoil
- Drymocallis glandulosa var. glandulosa — Sticky cinquefoil
- Drymocallis glandulosa var. reflexa — Sticky cinquefoil
- Drymocallis glandulosa var. viscida — Sticky cinquefoil
- Drymocallis glandulosa var. wrangelliana — Sticky cinquefoil
- Drymocallis hansenii — Yosemite woodbeauty
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.