Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens
Suffrutescent sandwort
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens (Suffrutescent sandwort) is a native California subshrub in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by umbel-like inflorescence with basal bracts.
Suffrutescent sandwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, central Sierra Nevada Forest, Sierra Nevada, and desert mountains on rocky slopes and outcrops at elevations of 1,200 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate white flowers in open, umbel-like clusters. Growing with slender stems 15 to 80 centimeters tall and extremely narrow leaves less than 1.5 millimeters wide, it forms a compact, somewhat woody base. Its leaves are thread-like and sparse, creating a delicate, airy appearance across rocky terrain. The flower's sepals are small and blunt, measuring 3 to 4 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species, distinguished by umbel-like inflorescence with basal bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, outcrops
Elevation: 1200-3300 m
California counties: Modoc, Glenn, Inyo, Madera, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Trinity, Tulare, Alpine, Fresno, Humboldt, Lassen, Nevada, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Alameda
Bloom period
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens blooms Jun-Aug.
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 congesta var. suffrutescens native to California?
Yes. Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens bloom?
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens grow?
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens occurs in Modoc, Glenn, Inyo, Madera, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3300 m.
What plant family does Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens belong to?
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
What habitat does Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens grow in?
Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens grows in Rocky slopes, outcrops.
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.