Lewisia triphylla
Three-leaved lewisia
(c) Gail A Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lewisia triphylla (Three-leaved lewisia) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by whorled stem leaves absolutely diagnostic among all lewisias.
Three-leaved lewisia is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Warner Mountains in moist sandy or gravelly slopes, grassy meadows, and open conifer forest at elevations of 1,300 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers with purple veins, 4 to 7 millimeters long, in delicate clusters. Growing with slender stems 2 to 7 centimeters tall, it emerges from a spheric tuberous root with many fine rootlets. Its cauline leaves are arranged in whorls of 3 to 5, linear or thread-like, 1 to 6 centimeters long with obtuse tips. The tiny fruits are 3 to 4 millimeters long, containing 8 to 25 seeds each just 1 millimeter in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; whorled stem leaves absolutely diagnostic among all lewisias
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist sandy or gravelly slopes, grassy meadows, open conifer forest
Elevation: 1300-3400 m
California counties: Tulare, Fresno, Mono, Madera, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Tuolumne, Trinity, Amador, Modoc, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Lassen, Lake, Del Norte
Outside California: to British Columbia, Rocky Mountains
Bloom period
Lewisia triphylla 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 triphylla native to California?
Yes. Lewisia triphylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lewisia triphylla bloom?
Lewisia triphylla blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Lewisia triphylla grow?
Lewisia triphylla occurs in Tulare, Fresno, Mono, Madera, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of 1300-3400 m.
What plant family does Lewisia triphylla belong to?
Lewisia triphylla is in the Montiaceae family, genus Lewisia.
What habitat does Lewisia triphylla grow in?
Lewisia triphylla grows in Moist sandy or gravelly slopes, grassy meadows, open conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lewisia ×whiteae
- Lewisia brachycalyx — Short-sepaled lewisia
- Lewisia cantelovii — Cantelow's lewisia
- Lewisia congdonii — Congdon's lewisia
- Lewisia cotyledon — Cliff maids
- Lewisia cotyledon var. cotyledon — Cliff maids
- Montia chamissoi — Toad lily
- Montia dichotoma — Dwarf miner's lettuce
- Montia diffusa — Diffuse miner's lettuce
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.