Ivesia sericoleuca
Plumas ivesia
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Ivesia sericoleuca (Plumas ivesia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by large white flowers (10-15mm) in head-like clusters with petals longer than sepals.
Plumas ivesia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and southern Modoc Plateau in Sierra Valley's dry, volcanic meadows at elevations of 1,300 to 2,320 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white flowers in compact clusters 10 to 20 millimeters wide with approximately 5 to 10 blossoms. Growing with decumbent to ascending green stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms a tufted habit with a few-branched caudex. Its complex leaves span 10 to 20 centimeters with 20 to 35 leaflets on each side, featuring small elliptic to oblanceolate lobes 3 to 15 millimeters long. The fruit is smooth and brown, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 13 species; large white flowers (10-15mm) in head-like clusters with petals longer than sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, generally volcanic meadows
Elevation: 1300-2320 m
California counties: Sierra, Nevada, El Dorado, Plumas, Placer, Lassen, Mono
Bloom period
Ivesia sericoleuca blooms May-Sep.
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 sericoleuca native to California?
Yes. Ivesia sericoleuca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia sericoleuca bloom?
Ivesia sericoleuca blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Ivesia sericoleuca grow?
Ivesia sericoleuca occurs in Sierra, Nevada, El Dorado, Plumas, Placer, Lassen, Mono, at elevations of 1300-2320 m.
What plant family does Ivesia sericoleuca belong to?
Ivesia sericoleuca is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
Is Ivesia sericoleuca rare or endangered?
Ivesia sericoleuca 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.