Eremogone ferrisiae
Ferris' sandwort, Ferris' Sandwort
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Eremogone ferrisiae (Ferris' sandwort) is a native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by very long pedicels creating open inflorescence.
Ferris' sandwort is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and Sierra Nevada east of the Sierra Nevada at elevations of 1,450 to 2,900 meters in pine and oak woodlands on granitic alluvium. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white flowers in open terminal cymes with many delicate blooms. Growing with tufted green stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall that are glabrous to glandular-hairy, it forms compact clusters in rocky mountain terrain. Its narrow leaves are spine-tipped, measuring 20 to 60 millimeters long and less than one millimeter wide, with a single prominent vein. The small reddish-brown to nearly black seeds are compressed and feature low, rounded tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species, distinguished by very long pedicels creating open inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pine, oak woodland, granitic alluvium on foothills, mountain slopes
Elevation: 1450-2900 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside, Butte, Tulare, San Bernardino
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Eremogone ferrisiae blooms Apr-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 ferrisiae native to California?
Yes. Eremogone ferrisiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone ferrisiae bloom?
Eremogone ferrisiae blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Eremogone ferrisiae grow?
Eremogone ferrisiae occurs in Inyo, Kern, Mono, Riverside, Butte, Tulare, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1450-2900 m.
What plant family does Eremogone ferrisiae belong to?
Eremogone ferrisiae is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
What habitat does Eremogone ferrisiae grow in?
Eremogone ferrisiae grows in Pine, oak woodland, granitic alluvium on foothills, mountain slopes.
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.