Eremogone cliftonii
Clifton's eremogone, clifton's sandwort, Clifton'S Sandwort
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Eremogone cliftonii (Clifton's eremogone) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by very large petals and non-glaucous habit.
Clifton's eremogone is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Butte and Plumas counties, growing in meadows and oak/conifer woodland at elevations of 455 to 1,770 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers 12 to 18 millimeters long in open terminal clusters with glandular-hairy pedicels. Growing in tufted clumps with slender green stems 15 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms delicate, rounded stems that are glabrous and somewhat dull. Its narrow leaves are sharp-pointed, 10 to 60 millimeters long and extremely thin, measuring just 0.7 to 1.1 millimeters wide with a single prominent vein. The fruit contains 5 to 9 black, ovate seeds that are 2 to 3 millimeters long with low, rounded tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species, distinguished by very large petals and non-glaucous habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Decomposing granite in meadows, oak/conifer woodland
Elevation: 455-1770 m
Bloom period
Eremogone cliftonii blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 cliftonii native to California?
Yes. Eremogone cliftonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone cliftonii bloom?
Eremogone cliftonii blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eremogone cliftonii belong to?
Eremogone cliftonii is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
Is Eremogone cliftonii rare or endangered?
Eremogone cliftonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Eremogone cliftonii grow in?
Eremogone cliftonii grows in Decomposing granite in meadows, oak/conifer woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eremogone congesta — Ballhead sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis — Charleston sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. congesta — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. crassula — Rough sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. simulans — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. subcongesta — Capitate sandwort
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.