page_title: Flora of the Sierra Nevada alpine zone
section_title: Shrubs
hierarchical_section_title: Flora of the Sierra Nevada alpine zone / Diversity and taxa / Shrubs
caption_attribution_description: English: Ericameria discoidea in Emigrant Wilderness, California, USA.
context_page_description: The flora of the U.S. Sierra Nevada alpine zone is characterized by small, low growing, cushion and mat forming plants that can survive the harsh conditions in the high-altitude alpine zone above the timber line. These flora often occur in alpine fell-fields. The Sierra Nevada alpine zone lacks a dominant plant species that characterizes it, so may or may not be called a vegetation type. But it is found above the subalpine forest, which is the highest in a succession of recognized vegetation types at increasing elevations.
  Botanists have ranked the Sierra Nevada alpine zone floral bloom as one of California's foremost wildflower displays, with flowers of fantastic color and abundance. Many of the alpine species are notable for large and showy flowers, which must compete for the pollinators during brief growing seasons. Botanist Philip A. Munz wrote, "These natural rock gardens are spectacular sights when in full flower." Botanist Laird R. Blackwell wrote, "Up here... the flowers seem to glow... perhaps only the flowers of the harsh desert can rival the alpine flowers for intensity."
  Over 90% of California's alpine flora are perennial herbs. Annuals are not common.
context_section_description: Shrubs tend to be small, and low growing to cope with high wind conditions and dense snowcovering, forming mats and cushions. Woody shrubs together with annuals constitute only about 6% of the number of Sierra Nevada alpine floral species.
  Whitestem goldenbush (Ericameria discoidea) is a compact woody-based shrub in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), grows on open rocky slopes to 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
  In the heath family (Ericaceae), white mountain heather (Cassiope mertensiana) is 1 foot (0.30 m) tall, tiny-leaved, densely branching shrub growing on rocky ledges and in crevices up to elevations of 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Swamp laurel (Kalmia polifolia) is a low (to 8 inches (0.20 m) tall), branching, mat-forming evergreen shrub that grows in boggy alpine meadows or at the edge of water, up to 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
  Also in the heath family is purple mountain heather (Phyllodoce breweri), a low-growing, highly branched, multistemmed, evergreen shrub found in moist rocky places up to about 11,500 feet (3,500 m) or 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Dwarf bilberry, or sierra bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum), is a tufted, low growing woody plant that make a red and gold carpet around alpine lakes in the fall. The western Labrador teas (Rhododendron columbianum and R. neoglandulosum), are not for tea, but are a poisonous, rigidly branched evergreen shrubs with fragrant white flowers, growing in moist places up to 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
  Mountain goosberry (Ribes montigenum), in the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae), can be found as high as 14,000 feet (4,300 m).
  Cliffbush (Jamesia americana) is in the mock-orange family (Hydrangeaceae), and can be found to 12,000 feet (3,700 m).
  White globe gilia, or ballhead gilia> (Ipomopsis congesta subsp. montana), in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae) grows in mats to 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Granite gilia, or prickly phlox (Linanthus pungens) is a 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) aromatic, hairy subshrub, having leaves with needle like lobes adapted to the alpine climate, that grows in a sprawling manner to elevations of 13,000 feet (4,000 m).
  Sierra primrose (Primula suffrutescens) is in the primrose family (Primulaceae), and is a sprawling, low growing subshrub found under overhanging rocks, and reaching only 5 inches (0.13 m).
  Creambush (Holodiscus microphyllus), rose family (Rosaceae) member  is a 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 m) shrub found to elevations of 13,000 feet (4,000 m). Alpine Drummond's cinquefoil (Potentilla drummondii var. breweri), with smaller densely white-hairy leaves than less well adapted varieties growing below the alpine zone, grows to 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Bush cinquefoil (P. fruticosa) is found around the world in northern latitudes (circumboreal), and in the alpine zone is dwarf shrub found in moist places up to 12,000 feet (3,700 m) or 12,500 feet (3,800 m) elevation.
  The mat forming Rocky Mountain willow (Salix petrophila), in the willow family (Salicaceae), grows to only 4 inches (0.10 m). Arctic willow (Salix arctica) is  tiny, creeping, prostrate, and mat forming. Snow willow (Salix reticulata) occurs in alpine cirques in Mono County, CA.
caption: Whitestem goldenbush (Ericameria discoidea)
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