Ivesia unguiculata
Yosemite ivesia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Ivesia unguiculata (Yosemite ivesia) is a native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by white/pink-tinged flowers in head-like clusters.
Yosemite ivesia is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains meadows at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to pink-tinged flowers in small clusters approximately 10 millimeters wide. Growing with ascending silvery-gray hairy stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a distinctive rosette with a simple caudex. Its complex leaves feature 15 to 25 leaflets on each side, with narrow linear to oblanceolate lobes 3 to 5 millimeters long, creating a delicate, finely textured appearance. The plant produces light brown fruits approximately 1.5 millimeters long, nestled among its silvery foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; white/pink-tinged flowers in head-like clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1500-2500 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Madera, Inyo
Bloom period
Ivesia unguiculata blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 unguiculata native to California?
Yes. Ivesia unguiculata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ivesia unguiculata bloom?
Ivesia unguiculata blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Ivesia unguiculata grow?
Ivesia unguiculata occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Madera, Inyo, at elevations of 1500-2500 m.
What plant family does Ivesia unguiculata belong to?
Ivesia unguiculata is in the Rosaceae family, genus Ivesia.
Is Ivesia unguiculata rare or endangered?
Ivesia unguiculata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ivesia webberi — Webber's ivesia
- Ivesia aperta — Sierra valley mousetail
- Ivesia aperta var. aperta — Sierra valley ivesia
- Ivesia aperta var. canina — Dog valley ivesia
- Ivesia argyrocoma var. argyrocoma — Silver-haired ivesia
- Ivesia arizonica var. arizonica — Yellow purpusia
- Luetkea pectinata — Partridge foot
- Luetkea sp.
- Lyonothamnus floribundus — Catalina ironwood
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.