Heuchera merriamii
Merriam's alumroot
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Heuchera merriamii (Merriam's alumroot) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by flower size and color pattern differences.
Merriam's alumroot is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in dry, rocky areas at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate pink flowers with green-tipped calyx lobes in small, glandular clusters. Growing with compact stems 7 to 23 centimeters tall, it forms a low, dense clump in rocky mountain habitats. Its leaves are broadly rounded, typically 2 to 5 centimeters wide, with shallow 5 to 7 lobes and petioles 2 to 5 centimeters long. The tiny oblanceolate petals and exserted stamens give this small alumroot a distinctive alpine appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; flower size and color pattern differences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Dry, rocky areas
Elevation: 1500-2500 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Heuchera merriamii blooms Jul-Aug.
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 merriamii native to California?
Yes. Heuchera merriamii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heuchera merriamii bloom?
Heuchera merriamii blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Heuchera merriamii belong to?
Heuchera merriamii is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Heuchera.
What habitat does Heuchera merriamii grow in?
Heuchera merriamii grows in Uncommon. Dry, rocky areas.
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.