Ivesia pickeringii
Pickering's ivesia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ivesia pickeringii (Pickering's ivesia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by tall stature and separate flowers diagnostic.
Pickering's ivesia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the central Klamath Ranges in wet, rocky serpentine meadows at elevations of 800 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate white to pale pink flowers 8 to 13 millimeters wide, with petals slightly longer than the sepals. Growing with tufted, gray-green stems 30 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms a compact cushion-like cluster with ascending to erect branches. Its complex leaves are up to 20 centimeters long, composed of 35 to 50 leaflets per side, with each small leaflet having 3 to 5 oblanceolate to obovate lobes 2 to 5 millimeters long. The fruit is a smooth, dark brown seed 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, characteristic of its delicate alpine meadow habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; tall stature and separate flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, rocky meadows, generally on serpentine clay
Elevation: 800-1500 m
California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Ivesia pickeringii blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Ivesia has rose-like flowers with separate petals; Achillea has composite flower heads with ray and disk flowers.; vs Potentilla: Ivesia has cylindrical bottlebrush leaves with 4-80 tiny leaflets per side; Potentilla has flat leaves with spread-out leaflets.; vs Horkelia: Ivesia has cylindrical leaves with overlapping leaflets; Horkelia has flat leaves with 2-15 distinct, separated leaflets.; vs Eremogone: Ivesia has compound bottlebrush leaves; Eremogone has simple, needle-like or thread-like leaves.; vs Cryptantha: Ivesia has rose-family flowers with separate petals; Cryptantha has fused tubular corollas typical of borages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivesia pickeringii native to California?
Yes. Ivesia pickeringii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia pickeringii bloom?
Ivesia pickeringii blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Ivesia pickeringii grow?
Ivesia pickeringii occurs in Trinity, Siskiyou, at elevations of 800-1500 m.
What plant family does Ivesia pickeringii belong to?
Ivesia pickeringii is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
Is Ivesia pickeringii rare or endangered?
Ivesia pickeringii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.