Petrophytum caespitosum

Mat rockspirea

Family: Rosaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Mat rockspirea is a California native shrub found in rocky, montane habitats at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white flowers in dense clusters 1 to 5 centimeters long, carried on branched peduncles 3 to 10 centimeters tall. Growing as a low, spreading mat 3 to 8 decimeters wide with multiple compact rosettes, it forms dense ground-covering clusters. Its leaves are simple, narrow, and prominently three-veined on the underside, creating a delicate textural appearance. The tiny fruits are approximately 2 millimeters long, containing one to two smooth, brown seeds.

California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Fresno, Tulare

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