Purshia stansburyana
Cliffrose, Cliffrose
Family: Rosaceae · Type: shrub · Native
Cliffrose is a California native shrub found in the White and Inyo Mountains and Desert Mountains in Joshua-tree and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 900 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers with petals 7 to 13 millimeters long, widely ovate in shape. Growing 1 to 4 meters tall with a spreading, multi-branched form, it develops a complex woody structure with intricate branching. Its leaves have 3 to 5 distinct lobes, with central and lateral lobes positioned asymmetrically, creating a delicate, textured appearance. The fruit develops with dramatically long, feathery plumose styles measuring 20 to 60 millimeters, giving the plant a distinctive and elegant silhouette.
Habitat: Joshua-tree, pinyon/juniper woodland
Bloom period: Apr-May(Oct)
Elevation: 900-2600 m
Bioregions: W&I, DMtns
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.