Micranthes californica
Greene's saxifrage
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Micranthes californica (Greene's saxifrage) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by elevation and habitat strongly diagnostic.
Greene's saxifrage is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Great Valley, central western, and southwestern California in moist, shady places at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small white flowers with elliptic petals 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long arranged in often one-sided, open inflorescences. Growing 15 to 35 centimeters tall with a distinctive caudex featuring long slender rhizomes and bulblets, it develops erect stems with delicate growth characteristics. Its leaves are ovate, 4 to 10 centimeters long with shallow teeth that are either round or sharp, and supported by petioles 2 to 5 centimeters in length. Its fruit develops as two distinctive follicles with partially inferior ovaries.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; elevation and habitat strongly diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shady places
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Humboldt, Butte, Tulare, Kern, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, San Mateo, Alpine, Amador, Glenn, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Shasta, Sierra, Plumas, Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura, Alameda, Mendocino, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Lake, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Placer, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Tuolumne, Colusa, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Riverside, San Diego, Madera, Yolo, Yuba, Orange
Outside California: southwestern Oregon, northwestern Baja California
Bloom period
Micranthes californica blooms Feb-May(Jun).
How to tell it apart
vs Saxifraga: Micranthes has all leaves unlobed/entire; Saxifraga has at least some leaves lobed or divided.; vs Romanzoffia: Micranthes has basal rosettes and 2 pistils; Romanzoffia has trailing stems and funnel-shaped flowers.; vs Boykinia: Micranthes has 2 separate pistils forming follicles; Boykinia has 1 pistil forming a capsule.; vs Calyptridium: Micranthes has 2 pistils and 5 petals; Calyptridium has 1 pistil and 2 petals.; vs Verbascum: Micranthes has basal rosettes with small flowers; Verbascum has tall spikes with large fuzzy flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Micranthes californica native to California?
Yes. Micranthes californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Micranthes californica bloom?
Micranthes californica blooms Feb-May(Jun).
Where in California does Micranthes californica grow?
Micranthes californica occurs in Humboldt, Butte, Tulare, Kern, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Micranthes californica belong to?
Micranthes californica is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Micranthes.
What habitat does Micranthes californica grow in?
Micranthes californica grows in Moist, shady places.
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.