Limnanthes alba subsp. alba
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Limnanthaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba is a native California herb in the Limnanthaceae family, recognized by hairy herbage and large white petals.
White meadowfoam is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, and the Great Valley in winter-wet grassland and woodland habitats at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white flowers with petals 10 to 16 millimeters long that dry to a soft pink. Growing with sparsely to densely hairy herbage, it forms low-spreading plants that create a lacy, intricate ground cover. Its leaves are finely divided, creating a delicate, feathery texture across the landscape. The fruit is approximately 4 millimeters long with wide ridges, contributing to the plant's distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are hairy herbage and large white petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Winter-wet grassland, woodland
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Placer, Butte, Yuba, Calaveras, El Dorado, Amador, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Tehama, Shasta, Tuolumne, Nevada, San Joaquin, Lake, Fresno, Sutter, Napa, Lassen
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Limnanthes has jagged petal tips and entire leaves; Cerastium has deeply notched petals.; vs Layia: Limnanthes has separate 4-5 petals in a simple flower; Layia is a composite with many ray flowers.; vs Sabulina: Limnanthes has pinnately divided fern-like leaves; Sabulina has simple narrow leaves.; vs Nemophila: Limnanthes has 4 petals with jagged tips; Nemophila has 5 petals with smooth edges.; vs Sidalcea: Limnanthes has 4-5 petals and pinnate leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and palmately lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Limnanthes alba subsp. alba native to California?
Yes. Limnanthes alba subsp. alba is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Limnanthes alba subsp. alba bloom?
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Limnanthes alba subsp. alba grow?
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba occurs in Placer, Butte, Yuba, Calaveras, El Dorado, Amador, Stanislaus, Sacramento and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Limnanthes alba subsp. alba belong to?
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba is in the Limnanthaceae family, genus Limnanthes.
What habitat does Limnanthes alba subsp. alba grow in?
Limnanthes alba subsp. alba grows in Winter-wet grassland, woodland.
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.