# California Rockjasmine (*Androsace elongata*)

California Rockjasmine is a lovely little plant that grows in rocky places. It has pretty flowers that can be white or pink, and it loves sunny spots!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![California Rockjasmine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Androsace_elongata_sl11.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Androsace_elongata_sl11.jpg)

## Appearance

The California Rockjasmine is a tiny plant forming a flat rosette of narrow, hairy leaves close to the ground. It features delicate white or pale pink flowers, each with five petals, blooming atop slender, reddish stems, making it visually distinct from taller, leafy plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ericales
- **Family:** Primulaceae
- **Genus:** Androsace

## Interesting facts

- California Rockjasmine belongs to the beautiful primrose family.
- Its seeds are so incredibly small, they look like fine dust!
- Its tiny flowers are often smaller than a ladybug!
- This rockjasmine thrives in tough, rocky places across many continents!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Guardian:** California Rockjasmine has tiny, hairy leaves that help it reduce water loss and survive in dry, sun-baked places.
- **Soil Scout:** California Rockjasmine can grow and thrive in poor, rocky soils where many other plants struggle to find nutrients.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Spread:** 5-10 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — provides nectar for foraging honey bees
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — attracts various bumblebee species
- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — a small food source for ground-dwelling herbivores

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify California Rockjasmine?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is California Rockjasmine?

5-15 cm

### How wide does California Rockjasmine spread?

5-10 cm

### How big are the flowers on California Rockjasmine?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does California Rockjasmine bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is California Rockjasmine edible?

No

### Is California Rockjasmine toxic?

None

### What is California Rockjasmine's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [California Rockjasmine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-rockjasmine)