Sanicula graveolens
Northern sanicle
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Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sanicula graveolens (Northern sanicle) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by high elevation (600-2600m), compound leaves, and tuberous roots diagnostic.
Northern sanicle is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the High Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in open forests and rocky slopes at elevations of 600 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clustered heads with delicate, stalked inflorescences. Growing 5 to 45 centimeters tall with a slender, taprooted habit, it has a low-spreading to erect growth form. Its compound leaves are ternate and 1 to 2-pinnate, with green to purplish blades approximately 1.5 to 4 centimeters long, featuring leaflets with crenate to lobed margins. The fruits are distinctive small ovate structures 3 to 5 millimeters long, covered in stout, hooked prickles with bulbous bases.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; high elevation (600-2600m), compound leaves, and tuberous roots diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open forest or rocky slopes, occasionally serpentine
Elevation: 600-2600 m
California counties: Tulare, Kern, Plumas, Modoc, Orange, Alpine, Tehama, Butte, Placer, San Bernardino, Glenn, San Diego, Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen, Humboldt, Sierra, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Trinity, Colusa, Mendocino, Yuba, Lake, Nevada, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Sonoma, Mariposa, Ventura, Calaveras, Fresno, Tuolumne, Del Norte, Monterey
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, southern South America
Bloom period
Sanicula graveolens blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Lomatium: Sanicula has dense round flower heads; Lomatium has flat-topped umbrella-shaped flower clusters.; vs Tauschia: Sanicula flowers are in tight round heads; Tauschia has open umbrella-shaped clusters.; vs Trifolium: Sanicula fruits are covered in hooked bristles; clover has smooth pods and distinctive three-part leaves.; vs Ranunculus: Sanicula has dense ball-like flower heads; buttercup has individual flowers on separate stalks.; vs Delphinium: Sanicula has round green flower heads; Delphinium has tall spikes of blue/purple spurred flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanicula graveolens native to California?
Yes. Sanicula graveolens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sanicula graveolens bloom?
Sanicula graveolens blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Sanicula graveolens grow?
Sanicula graveolens occurs in Tulare, Kern, Plumas, Modoc, Orange, Alpine, Tehama, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 600-2600 m.
What plant family does Sanicula graveolens belong to?
Sanicula graveolens is in the Apiaceae family, genus Sanicula.
What habitat does Sanicula graveolens grow in?
Sanicula graveolens grows in Open forest or rocky slopes, occasionally serpentine.
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.