Sabulina rubella
Reddish sandwort, Reddish Sandwort
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sabulina rubella (Reddish sandwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by cushion growth form without trailing stems is distinctive.
Reddish sandwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Sierra Nevada, northern central Coast Ranges, and White and Inyo Mountains on rocky ridges and slopes at elevations of 2,400 to 3,800 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces delicate white flowers with petals slightly smaller than its sharp-pointed sepals. Growing as a dense, compact herb reaching 2 to 8 centimeters tall, it forms small tufted clusters with ascending stems covered in glandular hairs. Its leaves are needle-like, flexible, and mostly clustered near the plant's base, measuring 1.5 to 10 millimeters long and less than one millimeter wide. The tiny seeds are distinctive, with a thick red-brown margin that adds subtle color to this diminutive alpine plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; cushion growth form without trailing stems is distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky ridges, slopes, unglaciated metamorphics, granitics
Elevation: 2400-3800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Marin, Tulare, Inyo, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Fresno, Placer, Alpine, Amador
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, circumboreal
Bloom period
Sabulina rubella blooms Summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabulina rubella native to California?
Yes. Sabulina rubella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sabulina rubella bloom?
Sabulina rubella blooms Summer.
Where in California does Sabulina rubella grow?
Sabulina rubella occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Marin, Tulare, Inyo, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 2400-3800 m.
What plant family does Sabulina rubella belong to?
Sabulina rubella is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sabulina.
What habitat does Sabulina rubella grow in?
Sabulina rubella grows in Rocky ridges, slopes, unglaciated metamorphics, granitics.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.