Ivesia aperta var. aperta

Sierra valley ivesia, Sierra Valley Ivesia

Family: Rosaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Sierra valley ivesia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada (excluding Dog Valley) and southern Modoc Plateau in dry, rocky meadows on volcanic soils at elevations of 1,500 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small, delicate white to cream-colored flowers approximately 4 to 6 millimeters wide with oblanceolate petals. Growing with generally ascending to erect stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters with more than 10 flowers in each inflorescence. Its leaves are finely divided, creating a soft, feathery appearance typical of ivesia species, with small leaflets clustered along slender stems. The plant's compact growth and preference for rocky volcanic meadows make it a distinctive component of high-elevation Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau landscapes.

Habitat: Dry, rocky meadows, generally volcanic soils

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1500-2300 m

Bioregions: n SNH (exc Dog Valley), s MP

California counties: Plumas, Sierra

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.