Eremogone aculeata
Prickly sandwort
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eremogone aculeata (Prickly sandwort) is a native California subshrub in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by glaucous habit and larger petals.
Prickly sandwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and North Coast Ranges in rocky slopes, volcanic areas, and alluvial terrain at elevations of 2,100 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers with petals 4.5 to 10 millimeters long in open terminal clusters. Growing as a low-spreading, mat-forming herb with glandular-hairy stems 7 to 15 centimeters tall, it has a distinctly glaucous appearance. Its leaves are sharp-pointed, extremely narrow, measuring 10 to 35 millimeters long and only 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters wide with a single prominent vein. The seeds are small, yellow-tan to gray, elliptic-oblong, and bear low rounded tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species, distinguished by glaucous habit and larger petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, alluvium, volcanic areas
Elevation: 2100-2600 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, Utah
Bloom period
Eremogone aculeata blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Sabulina: Eremogone has rigid, spine-tipped needle leaves in dense cushions; Sabulina has softer, narrower leaves more scattered on stems.; vs Minuartia: Eremogone cushions have spine-tipped needles that prick; Minuartia has softer, more flexible narrow leaves.; vs Ivesia: Eremogone has simple needle leaves in cushions; Ivesia has compound, fern-like leaves in rosettes.; vs Hesperolinon: Eremogone forms cushions of sharp needle leaves; Hesperolinon is upright with scattered narrow leaves.; vs Linanthus: Eremogone has dense needle-leaf cushions; Linanthus has palmate-divided leaves like tiny hands.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremogone aculeata native to California?
Yes. Eremogone aculeata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone aculeata bloom?
Eremogone aculeata blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Eremogone aculeata belong to?
Eremogone aculeata is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
What habitat does Eremogone aculeata grow in?
Eremogone aculeata grows in Rocky slopes, alluvium, volcanic areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.