Sagina procumbens
Matted pearlwort, Matted Pearlwort
(c) Sylvain Piry, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sagina procumbens (Matted pearlwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by 4-parted flowers, curved pedicels in flower, and perennial habit.
Matted pearlwort is a naturalized perennial herb found in coastal California regions including North and Central Coast areas in wet, gravelly or sandy soils, roadsides, and disturbed areas at elevations below 15 meters. Flowering from late spring to early fall, this plant produces tiny white flowers in delicate clusters with thread-like pedicels that curve during flowering. Growing with slender, generally decumbent to ascending stems 2 to 18 centimeters tall, it frequently forms sterile basal rosettes that spread across the ground. Its leaves are narrow and linear, measuring 3 to 10 millimeters long, with compact blade structures that complement its low-growing habit. Sterile basal clusters often accompany the plant, creating a matted, spreading appearance across disturbed ground surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are 4-parted flowers, curved pedicels in flower, and perennial habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, gravelly or sandy soil, roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 15 m
California counties: Alameda, Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Diego, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, Siskiyou, Butte, Tehama, Mendocino, Del Norte, Solano, Alpine, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Monterey
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Colorado, eastern North America, Mexico, native to Europe
Bloom period
Sagina procumbens blooms Late spring-early fall.
How to tell it apart
vs Erigeron: Sagina forms moss-like mats with thread leaves; Erigeron has narrow but broader leaves and daisy-like flowers.; vs Sabulina: Sagina has extremely thread-like leaves forming dense mats; Sabulina has slightly wider, less moss-like leaves.; vs Soliva: Sagina forms green moss-like mats with tiny white flowers; Soliva forms flattened rosettes with no petals.; vs Spergula: Sagina has thread-like leaves in pairs; Spergula has leaves in whorls around the stem.; vs Holosteum: Sagina has tiny scattered flowers in loose clusters; Holosteum has umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sagina procumbens native to California?
Yes. Sagina procumbens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sagina procumbens bloom?
Sagina procumbens blooms Late spring-early fall.
Where in California does Sagina procumbens grow?
Sagina procumbens occurs in Alameda, Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Diego, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa and other counties, at elevations of < 15 m.
What plant family does Sagina procumbens belong to?
Sagina procumbens is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sagina.
What habitat does Sagina procumbens grow in?
Sagina procumbens grows in Wet, gravelly or sandy soil, roadsides, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.