Lewisia longipetala

Long-petaled lewisia

Family: Montiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Long-petaled lewisia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in boulder fields, rock crevices, and subalpine forests at elevations of 2,500 to 2,925 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers with delicate petals 15 millimeters or longer, often featuring red-gland-toothed margins. Growing with multiple slender stems 3 to 8 centimeters tall, each bearing one to two flowers nestled within an open rosette of leaves. Its leaves form a delicate arrangement, each linear to narrowly oblanceolate, measuring 3 to 6 centimeters long with thin, entire edges and blunt tips. The plant's distinctive flower structure includes five to ten elegantly shaped petals emerging from a compact base, creating a subtle yet intricate alpine botanical display.

Habitat: Boulder, rock fields, crevices, scree fed by snow-melt, subalpine forest

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: 2500-2925 m

Bioregions: n&ampc SNH.

California counties: Nevada, El Dorado, Placer

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