Horkelia wilderae
Barton flats horkelia, Barton Flats Horkelia
(c) James M. Maley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Horkelia wilderae (Barton flats horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very small flowers, few pistils, decumbent habit.
Barton flats horkelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Barton Flats area of the San Bernardino Mountains in chaparral and pine woodland at elevations of 1,880 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers in open clusters of 5 to 15 blooms. Growing with decumbent green stems 10 to 25 centimeters long, it forms a somewhat rosetted habit with a simple caudex. Its compound leaves have 4 to 7 leaflets on each side, each leaflet approximately obovate and deeply lobed almost to the base with 5 to 15 narrow segments. The plant has sparse hairs and delicate petals measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: very small flowers, few pistils, decumbent habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Edge of chaparral, under pines
Elevation: 1880-3000 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Bloom period
Horkelia wilderae blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 wilderae native to California?
Yes. Horkelia wilderae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkelia wilderae bloom?
Horkelia wilderae blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Horkelia wilderae grow?
Horkelia wilderae occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 1880-3000 m.
What plant family does Horkelia wilderae belong to?
Horkelia wilderae is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkelia.
Is Horkelia wilderae rare or endangered?
Horkelia wilderae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Horkelia yadonii — Santa lucia horkelia
- Horkelia bolanderi — Bolander's horkelia
- Horkelia californica — California horkelia
- Horkelia californica var. californica — California horkelia
- Horkelia californica var. elata — California horkelia
- Horkelia californica var. frondosa — California horkelia
- Horkeliella congdonis — Congdon's false horkelia
- Horkeliella purpurascens — Purple false horkelia
- Horkeliella sp.
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.