Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lewisia longipetala is a rare species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common names long-petalled lewisia and Truckee lewisia. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, where it is known from less than 20 locations in areas not far from Lake Tahoe. It grows in subalpine and alpine climates in moist areas in rocky habitat, such as talus that retains patches of snow year-round. Most specimens grow on north-facing slopes with little surrounding vegetation. The plant thrives in the snow, growing largest and most densely in areas of high snowpack and becoming easily water-stressed when far away from areas with snow. This is a perennial herb growing from a slender taproot and caudex unit. It produces a basal rosette of many thin but fleshy leaves 3 to 6 centimeters long. The flower cluster is made up of several flowers on short stalks. Each flower has around 8 petals each between 1 and 2 centimeters long, pinkish in color, and tipped with a resin gland similar to those on the edges of the leafs and two small sepals.

Plant type

Perennial herb

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Color

Pink

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Site type

Crevices in granitic rocks

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Subalpine Forest