Heuchera micrantha
Alum root
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Heuchera micrantha (Alum root) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by habitat preference and leaf shape somewhat distinctive.
Alum root is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California (excluding the southern Coast Ranges) in moist, rocky banks and cliffs at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white to pinkish flowers in an open, glandular inflorescence with delicate branching. Growing 10 to 100 centimeters tall with glandular stems, it forms an upright clump with distinctive foliage. Its leaves are broadly ovate, 2 to 12 centimeters wide, deeply 5 to 7-lobed, and generally hairy with petioles ranging from 3 to 30 centimeters long. The flower clusters feature tiny oblanceolate petals with green to red calyx tips, creating a delicate and intricate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; habitat preference and leaf shape somewhat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, rocky banks and cliffs
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Humboldt, Sierra, Fresno, Siskiyou, Nevada, Tulare, Butte, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, El Dorado, Placer, Glenn, Sonoma, Kern, Mariposa, Plumas, Trinity, Contra Costa, Alameda, Tehama, San Luis Obispo, Del Norte, Santa Barbara, Mono, San Francisco, Napa, Shasta, Tuolumne, Madera, Santa Clara, Calaveras
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho
Bloom period
Heuchera micrantha blooms Apr-Jul.
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 micrantha native to California?
Yes. Heuchera micrantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heuchera micrantha bloom?
Heuchera micrantha blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Heuchera micrantha grow?
Heuchera micrantha occurs in Humboldt, Sierra, Fresno, Siskiyou, Nevada, Tulare, Butte, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Heuchera micrantha belong to?
Heuchera micrantha is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Heuchera.
What habitat does Heuchera micrantha grow in?
Heuchera micrantha grows in Moist, rocky banks and cliffs.
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.