Saxifraga mertensiana

Wood saxifrage

Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Wood saxifrage is a California native perennial found in the North Coast, Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada in mossy rock and cliff habitats at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces white petals 4 to 5 millimeters long in open panicle inflorescences. Growing with a distinctive caudex that produces small bulblets, it forms stems with large, round leaves divided into many small triangular lobes. Its leaves are 4 to 20 centimeters long with petioles 2 to 15 centimeters, featuring heart-shaped bases and multiple lobes with irregular teeth. The fruit develops in a distinctive purple color, adding visual interest to this delicate mountain plant.

Habitat: Mossy rocks, cliffs

Bloom period: Feb-Jul

Elevation: < 2500 m

Bioregions: NCo, KR, NCoRO, n&ampc SN (uncommon)

California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Merced, Sonoma, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Placer, Tulare, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Plumas

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