Heuchera rubescens
Pink alumroot
(c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3.3
Heuchera rubescens (Pink alumroot) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by thread-like petals and one-sided inflorescence distinctive.
Pink alumroot is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges, Warner Mountains, eastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert Mountains in dry, rocky areas at elevations of 1,000 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white to pink flowers in delicate, often one-sided inflorescences that are cylindric to conic in shape. Growing 7 to 55 centimeters tall with glandular stems, it forms a compact clump with distinctive foliage. Its leaves are broadly ovate to nearly round, deeply 5 to 9-lobed, with petioles 1 to 15 centimeters long, creating a low-growing, textured appearance. The flower petals are thread-like to narrowly oblanceolate, with calyx lobes that transition from white to pink-red with green tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; thread-like petals and one-sided inflorescence distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky areas
Elevation: 1000-4000 m
California counties: Kern, Riverside, Tulare, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Nevada, Madera, Mariposa, Plumas, El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Santa Cruz, Lassen, Mendocino, Fresno, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, Modoc, Los Angeles, San Benito
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Heuchera rubescens blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 3.3
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 rubescens native to California?
Yes. Heuchera rubescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Heuchera rubescens bloom?
Heuchera rubescens blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Heuchera rubescens grow?
Heuchera rubescens occurs in Kern, Riverside, Tulare, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1000-4000 m.
What plant family does Heuchera rubescens belong to?
Heuchera rubescens is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Heuchera.
Is Heuchera rubescens rare or endangered?
Heuchera rubescens carries California Rare Plant Rank 3.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Heuchera rubescens var. versicolor — San Diego County alumroot
- Heuchera sp. — Alumroot
- Heuchera abramsii — Abrams' alumroot
- Heuchera brevistaminea — Laguna mountains alumroot
- Heuchera caespitosa — Urn-flowered alumroot
- Heuchera cylindrica — Alpine alumroot
- Jepsonia heterandra — Foothill jepsonia
- Jepsonia malvifolia — Island jepsonia
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.