Lewisia pygmaea
Dwarf lewisia, Dwarf Lewisia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lewisia pygmaea (Dwarf lewisia) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by very short stems and small flowers diagnostic.
Dwarf lewisia is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, Warner Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in rocky alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 4,020 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate white, pink, or magenta flowers with striped petals, each blossom 4 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with multiple slender stems 1 to 5 centimeters tall, it forms dense rosettes of fleshy, thread-like leaves. Its leaves are 2 to 9 centimeters long, with a tapered base and blunt tips, arranged in tight clusters close to the ground. The plant produces small fruits 4 to 5 millimeters long, containing 15 to 24 tiny seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; very short stems and small flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, wet granite sand, gravel, moist meadows, along streams
Elevation: 1700-4020 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Alpine, Fresno, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Modoc, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Siskiyou, Madera, Lassen, Humboldt, Ventura, Sierra
Outside California: to Alaska, Rocky Mountains
Bloom period
Lewisia pygmaea blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Claytonia: Lewisia forms tight rosettes on rocks while Claytonia has thin leaves on upright stems in moist soil.; vs Montia: Lewisia grows from rocky crevices with succulent rosette leaves; Montia has thin stems with multiple leaves.; vs Stephanomeria: Lewisia has 5-petaled pink flowers and succulent leaves; Stephanomeria has dandelion-like ray flowers and milky sap.; vs Draba: Lewisia has pink/white 5-petaled flowers; Draba has yellow/white 4-petaled flowers in tight clusters.; vs Clarkia: Lewisia has succulent basal leaves and grows on rocks; Clarkia has upright stems with papery 4-petaled flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lewisia pygmaea native to California?
Yes. Lewisia pygmaea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lewisia pygmaea bloom?
Lewisia pygmaea blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Lewisia pygmaea grow?
Lewisia pygmaea occurs in Inyo, Mono, Alpine, Fresno, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1700-4020 m.
What plant family does Lewisia pygmaea belong to?
Lewisia pygmaea is in the Montiaceae family, genus Lewisia.
What habitat does Lewisia pygmaea grow in?
Lewisia pygmaea grows in Rocky slopes, wet granite sand, gravel, moist meadows, along streams.
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.