Horkeliella purpurascens
Purple false horkelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Horkeliella purpurascens (Purple false horkelia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by habitat (forest edges vs sagebrush flats), plant color/stickiness, and pedicel length.
Purple false horkelia is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains on the western slope in partial shade at granitic meadow edges within conifer forest at elevations of 1,400 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate white to pale pink flowers approximately 10 to 15 millimeters wide with oblanceolate petals. Growing with often grayish stems and reaching moderate heights, it develops a complex structure with numerous leaflets. Its basal leaves feature 15 to 30 leaflets on each side, typically 3 to 10 millimeters long, creating a dense and intricate foliage pattern. The plant typically appears somewhat gray and not particularly sticky, with two to four cauline leaves complementing its basal leaf structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by habitat (forest edges vs sagebrush flats), plant color/stickiness, and pedicel length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Partial shade at granitic meadow edges in conifer forest
Elevation: 1400-2900 m
California counties: Kern, Tulare, Inyo
Bloom period
Horkeliella purpurascens blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Horkelia: Horkeliella has 20 stamens and 15-35 fine leaflets per side; Horkelia has 10 stamens and 2-15 leaflets.; vs Ivesia: Horkeliella has flat leaves with distinct leaflets; Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with overlapping leaflets.; vs Drymocallis: Horkeliella has 20 stamens and thread-like filaments; Drymocallis has 20+ stamens and club-shaped styles.; vs Potentilla: Horkeliella has exactly 20 stamens and flattened filaments; Potentilla has 20+ stamens and thread-like filaments.; vs Comarum: Horkeliella has white-pink petals larger than sepals; Comarum has dark red petals smaller than sepals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horkeliella purpurascens native to California?
Yes. Horkeliella purpurascens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Horkeliella purpurascens bloom?
Horkeliella purpurascens blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Horkeliella purpurascens grow?
Horkeliella purpurascens occurs in Kern, Tulare, Inyo, at elevations of 1400-2900 m.
What plant family does Horkeliella purpurascens belong to?
Horkeliella purpurascens is in the Rosaceae family, genus Horkeliella.
What habitat does Horkeliella purpurascens grow in?
Horkeliella purpurascens grows in Partial shade at granitic meadow edges in conifer forest.
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.