Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola
Cliff woodbeauty
Photo: parent species Drymocallis pseudorupestris · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola (Cliff woodbeauty) is a native California perennial in the Rosaceae family, recognized by golden-brown styles and 3 leaflet pairs.
Cliff woodbeauty is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in rocky areas at elevations of 2,300 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces small white or pale yellow flowers with golden-brown styles. Growing with delicate stems covered in short, non-glandular hairs, it forms compact clusters in alpine and subalpine rocky habitats. Its compound leaves feature three leaflets on each side, creating a distinctive pinnate structure with finely textured green foliage. The plant's short, dense growth habit and ability to thrive in high-elevation rocky environments make it a resilient alpine specialist.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; distinguished by golden-brown styles and 3 leaflet pairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky areas
Elevation: 2300-3500 m
California counties: Trinity, Mono, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Modoc, Mendocino, Shasta, Plumas, Tehama, Alpine
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola blooms Jul-Sep.
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 pseudorupestris var. saxicola native to California?
Yes. Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola bloom?
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola grow?
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola occurs in Trinity, Mono, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Modoc, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 2300-3500 m.
What plant family does Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola belong to?
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola is in the Rosaceae family, genus Drymocallis.
What habitat does Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola grow in?
Drymocallis pseudorupestris var. saxicola grows in Rocky areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.