Vancouveria hexandra
Deciduous vancouvaria
(c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Gavin Slater · licence
Family: Berberidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Vancouveria hexandra (Deciduous vancouvaria) is a native California herb in the Berberidaceae family, recognized by deciduous habit distinguishes from V. planipetala, white flowers from V. chrysantha.
Deciduous vancouvaria is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, western Klamath Ranges, and northern Coast Range Outer regions in conifer forest at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with strongly reflexed, hood-like petals and delicate red-glandular filaments. Growing with graceful stems up to 27 centimeters tall, it displays distinctive deciduous leaves that are glabrous on top and sparsely hairy underneath. Its leaves are compound, measuring 8 to 27 centimeters long, with a glabrous petiole that turns straw-colored with age. In fruit, the plant develops a glandular-hairy seed body 8 to 10 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; deciduous habit distinguishes from V. planipetala, white flowers from V. chrysantha
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, San Francisco, Mendocino, Trinity, Napa, Santa Cruz, San Mateo
Outside California: to western Washington
Bloom period
Vancouveria hexandra blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Cardamine: Vancouveria has heart-shaped leaflets and reflexed petals; Cardamine has rounded leaflets and flat 4-petaled flowers.; vs Tiarella: Vancouveria has compound leaves divided into heart-shaped leaflets; Tiarella has simple, lobed maple-like leaves.; vs Hedera: Vancouveria is a ground-level herb; Hedera is a woody climbing vine with thick leathery leaves.; vs Asarum: Vancouveria has compound leaves and white flowers; Asarum has simple kidney-shaped leaves and hidden brownish flowers at ground level.; vs Oxalis: Vancouveria has heart-shaped leaflets and backward-curved petals; Oxalis has notched heart-shaped leaflets and cup-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vancouveria hexandra native to California?
Yes. Vancouveria hexandra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vancouveria hexandra bloom?
Vancouveria hexandra blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Vancouveria hexandra grow?
Vancouveria hexandra occurs in Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, San Francisco, Mendocino, Trinity, Napa, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Vancouveria hexandra belong to?
Vancouveria hexandra is in the Berberidaceae family, genus Vancouveria.
What habitat does Vancouveria hexandra grow in?
Vancouveria hexandra grows in Conifer forest.
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.