Heuchera maxima
Island alumroot
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Heuchera maxima (Island alumroot) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Island alumroot is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the northern Channel Islands in rocky canyon cliff habitats at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces white to pink flowers in delicate, narrow inflorescences with spoon-shaped petals. Growing 45 to 60 centimeters tall with glandular stems, it forms an elegant clump with distinctive foliage. Its large leaves are broadly rounded, deeply 7 to 9-lobed, with petioles 8 to 20 centimeters long and blade diameters reaching 18 centimeters. The flower clusters feature white to pink calyx lobes with stamens extending slightly beyond the calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs in canyons
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino
Bloom period
Heuchera maxima blooms Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 maxima native to California?
Yes. Heuchera maxima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heuchera maxima bloom?
Heuchera maxima blooms Apr.
Where in California does Heuchera maxima grow?
Heuchera maxima occurs in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Heuchera maxima belong to?
Heuchera maxima is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Heuchera.
Is Heuchera maxima rare or endangered?
Heuchera maxima carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.