Tellima grandiflora
Bigflower tellima
(c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Tellima grandiflora (Bigflower tellima) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to Pacific Northwest, reaches southern limit in California.
Bigflower tellima is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, northern Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in moist slopes at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces green-white to rose or red fragrant flowers with delicate linear petals in spike-like racemes. Growing 40 to 100 centimeters tall with hairy and sparsely glandular stems emerging from a scaly rhizome, it has an elegant upright form. Its basal and stem leaves are ovate with heart-shaped bases, 2 to 10 centimeters long, featuring shallow lobes and sharp teeth that clasp the stem. The plant produces a capsule fruit with ephemeral petals that add a delicate, shifting color to woodland understories.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to Pacific Northwest, reaches southern limit in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist slopes
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Marin, Sonoma, Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Del Norte, Sierra, Placer, Plumas, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Yuba, Nevada, Contra Costa, El Dorado, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Tehama
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Bloom period
Tellima grandiflora blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Heuchera: Tellima has deeply fringed petals in spike-like raceme; Heuchera has tiny entire petals in open panicle.; vs Tolmiea: Tellima has fringed petals and equal fruit valves; Tolmiea has thread-like petals and unequal valves.; vs Tiarella: Tellima petals are deeply fringed into linear segments; Tiarella petals are entire (smooth-edged).; vs Brewerimitella: Tellima has visible fringed petals; Brewerimitella petals are tiny or absent.; vs Sanicula: Tellima has fringed white flowers in spike; Sanicula has tiny greenish flowers in round umbel clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tellima grandiflora native to California?
Yes. Tellima grandiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Tellima grandiflora bloom?
Tellima grandiflora blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Tellima grandiflora grow?
Tellima grandiflora occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Marin, Sonoma, Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Tellima grandiflora belong to?
Tellima grandiflora is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Tellima.
What habitat does Tellima grandiflora grow in?
Tellima grandiflora grows in Moist slopes.
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.