Epilobium nivium
Snow mountain willowherb
(c) Ryan Elliott, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ryan Elliott · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Epilobium nivium (Snow mountain willowherb) is a native California subshrub in the Onagraceae family, recognized by subshrub habit and dense hairiness.
Snow mountain willowherb is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges in dry talus and shaly slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces rose-purple flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing as a low subshrub 10 to 25 centimeters tall with multiple stems emerging from a woody base, it has a distinctively gray strigose appearance. Its leaves are lance-elliptic, 8 to 18 millimeters long, densely covered in spreading hairs with minimal or short petioles. The fruit is a glandular fusiform capsule 8 to 16 millimeters long, containing one to two seeds per chamber.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; distinguished by subshrub habit and dense hairiness
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry talus, shaly slopes
Elevation: 1500-2400 m
Bloom period
Epilobium nivium blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Epilobium has 4 notched petals and opposite leaves; Penstemon has 5-lobed tubular flowers (snapdragon family).; vs Gambelia: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Gambelia has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Fuchsia: Epilobium has notched petals spreading flat; Fuchsia has dangling tubular flowers with protruding stamens.; vs Keckiella: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Keckiella has 5-lobed tubular snapdragon-like flowers.; vs Diplacus: Epilobium has 4 notched petals; Diplacus has 5-lobed tubular monkey flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Epilobium nivium native to California?
Yes. Epilobium nivium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Epilobium nivium bloom?
Epilobium nivium blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Epilobium nivium belong to?
Epilobium nivium is in the Onagraceae family, genus Epilobium.
Is Epilobium nivium rare or endangered?
Epilobium nivium carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2S3.
What habitat does Epilobium nivium grow in?
Epilobium nivium grows in dry talus, shaly slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.