Heuchera brevistaminea
Laguna mountains alumroot, Laguna Mountains Alumroot
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Heuchera brevistaminea (Laguna mountains alumroot) is a native California subshrub in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by distinctive included stamens vs. exserted in others.
Laguna mountains alumroot is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County in dry, steep, rocky areas at elevations of 1,400 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate red-purple flowers with spoon-shaped petals 4 to 5 millimeters long in an open inflorescence. Growing 18 to 25 centimeters tall with an erect habit, it features glandular stems with nearly sessile and long-stalked glands. Its flowers have bilateral symmetry with slightly unequal calyx lobes approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters long, creating a distinctive red-purple accent against its delicate structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive included stamens vs. exserted in others
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, steep, rocky areas
Elevation: 1400-1900 m
Bloom period
Heuchera brevistaminea blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Tellima: Heuchera has branched flower clusters; Tellima's flowers are in a simple unbranched spike; vs Tiarella: Heuchera's flower clusters branch repeatedly; Tiarella has a single bottlebrush-like spike; vs Antigonon: Heuchera has tiny 5-petaled flowers in airy clusters; Antigonon has showy pink heart-shaped sepals on vines; vs Pelargonium: Heuchera has tiny flowers in delicate branched clusters; Pelargonium has large showy flowers with spurred blooms; vs Ribes: Heuchera is herbaceous with basal leaves; Ribes is a woody shrub with maple-like leaves
Frequently asked questions
Is Heuchera brevistaminea native to California?
Yes. Heuchera brevistaminea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heuchera brevistaminea bloom?
Heuchera brevistaminea blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Heuchera brevistaminea belong to?
Heuchera brevistaminea is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Heuchera.
Is Heuchera brevistaminea rare or endangered?
Heuchera brevistaminea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Heuchera brevistaminea grow in?
Heuchera brevistaminea grows in Dry, steep, rocky areas.
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.