Sabulina nuttallii var. gracilis

Nuttall sandwort

Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Nuttall sandwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada, and eastern Sierra Nevada in loose talus, sandy flats, gravelly areas, and barren rock at elevations of 2,600 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from July to August, this delicate plant produces white flowers with petals slightly shorter than the sepals. Growing with slender stems that form loose clusters, it spreads across rocky alpine terrain. Its leaves are distinctively straight or slightly curved, creating a subtle, graceful profile across exposed mountain landscapes. The plant's compact structure allows it to thrive in harsh, high-elevation environments with minimal soil and extreme conditions.

Habitat: Loose talus, sandy flats, gravelly areas, barren rock

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: 2600-3800 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH, SNH, SnGb, SNE

California counties: Inyo, Fresno, Mono, San Bernardino, Tulare, Alpine, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Nevada, Riverside, Trinity, Tuolumne, Modoc, Shasta, Amador

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