Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens
Three toothed horkelia
Photo: parent species Horkelia tridentata · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens (Three toothed horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Co-occurs with 8 other horkelia species; flower size and growth form are key.
Three toothed horkelia is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, particularly in Plumas County, often growing on serpentine soils at elevations of 750 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to cream flowers approximately 6 to 10 millimeters wide with petals slightly smaller than the sepals. Growing with decumbent stems that form loose clusters, it spreads in low, spreading mats with individual flower clusters. Its leaves have multiple leaflets with distinctive three-toothed tips, reflecting its common name and creating a delicate, intricate appearance. The flower's inner hypanthium wall is notably hairy, with filaments measuring 1 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 8 other horkelia species; flower size and growth form are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Often on +- serpentine
Elevation: 750-2000 m
California counties: El Dorado, Trinity, Butte, Fresno, Mendocino, Lake, Lassen, Nevada, Humboldt, Plumas, Siskiyou, Alpine, Calaveras, Madera, Tehama, Shasta, Del Norte, Sierra, Marin
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Drymocallis: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and white-pink flowers; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and yellow-white flowers.; vs Erodium: Horkelia has pinnate leaves and rose-family flowers; Erodium has lobed/divided leaves and long-beaked fruits.; vs Phacelia: Horkelia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Phacelia has bell-shaped fused corollas with protruding stamens.; vs Potentilla: Horkelia has exactly 10 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Ivesia: Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 separated leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens native to California?
Yes. Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens bloom?
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens grow?
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens occurs in El Dorado, Trinity, Butte, Fresno, Mendocino, Lake, Lassen, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 750-2000 m.
What plant family does Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens belong to?
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
What habitat does Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens grow in?
Horkelia tridentata var. flavescens grows in Often on +- serpentine.
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.