Ivesia saxosa
Rock five finger
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ivesia saxosa (Rock five finger) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by distinctive with only 2-4 large, separated leaflets per side and yellow flowers.
Rock five finger is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardo Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada East, and Desert Mountains in granitic or volcanic crevices at elevations of 900 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces delicate yellow flowers 7 to 10 millimeters wide in open clusters with pedicels that curve slightly when bearing fruit. Growing in hanging green clumps with stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms distinctive mat-like clusters on rocky surfaces. Its leaves are complex, typically 5 to 15 centimeters long with 2 to 4 leaflets on each side, each leaflet round and evenly shallow-toothed or slightly lobed. The tiny fruits are pale and slightly ridged, measuring 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 16 species; distinctive with only 2-4 large, separated leaflets per side and yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granitic or volcanic crevices
Elevation: 900-3300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Mono, Inyo, Tulare, San Diego, Ventura
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ivesia saxosa blooms Apr-Aug.
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 saxosa native to California?
Yes. Ivesia saxosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia saxosa bloom?
Ivesia saxosa blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Ivesia saxosa grow?
Ivesia saxosa occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Mono, Inyo, Tulare, San Diego, Ventura, at elevations of 900-3300 m.
What plant family does Ivesia saxosa belong to?
Ivesia saxosa is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
What habitat does Ivesia saxosa grow in?
Ivesia saxosa grows in Granitic or volcanic crevices.
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.