Sabulina howellii
Howell's sandwort
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Sabulina howellii (Howell's sandwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by basal leaf clustering and recurved rigid leaves.
Howell's sandwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges in chaparral and Jeffrey-pine/oak woodland on serpentine soils at elevations of 550 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces white flowers with petals slightly longer than its narrow sepals. Growing 12 to 30 centimeters tall with erect to spreading stems that are finely glandular-hairy and turn purple when fruiting, it has a delicate branching habit from the base. Its leaves are rigid, lance-linear, and recurved, measuring 10 to 15 millimeters long and concentrated near the base of the stem. The tiny seeds are 1.4 to 1.7 millimeters long with thick brown to black-brown margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are basal leaf clustering and recurved rigid leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, Jeffrey-pine/oak woodland, serpentine
Elevation: 550-1000 m
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Sabulina howellii blooms Spring-summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabulina howellii native to California?
Yes. Sabulina howellii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sabulina howellii bloom?
Sabulina howellii blooms Spring-summer.
What plant family does Sabulina howellii belong to?
Sabulina howellii is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sabulina.
Is Sabulina howellii rare or endangered?
Sabulina howellii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Sabulina howellii grow in?
Sabulina howellii grows in Chaparral, Jeffrey-pine/oak woodland, serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.