# crevice alumroot (*Heuchera micrantha*) Crevice alumroot is a small plant with pretty leaves that can grow in rocky places. It has tiny flowers that bloom in spring and summer, adding color to its home. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![crevice alumroot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Heuchera_micrantha_4940.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heuchera_micrantha_4940.JPG) ## Appearance The crevice alumroot has distinctive lobed leaves, often mottled with shades of green, purple, or silver-green, forming a compact clump. Slender stalks rise above the foliage, bearing tiny, bell-shaped flowers that can range from white to pink or reddish-brown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Saxifragaceae - **Genus:** Heuchera ## Interesting facts - It can live for many, many years, clinging to rocks through all kinds of tough weather! - Its roots were once chewed by people to help stop bleeding, like a natural bandage! - Some varieties of alumroot have leaves that shimmer in the light, almost like silver! - This amazing plant can often grow upside down from cliff faces, defying gravity! ## Special abilities - **Rock Gripper:** Crevice alumroot has strong, fibrous roots that anchor it firmly in narrow rock cracks, helping it survive harsh winds. - **Thirst Quencher:** Crevice alumroot can store water in its rhizomes, helping it survive long dry periods common in rocky habitats. - **Sun Shield:** Crevice alumroot sometimes develops reddish or purplish leaves, which protects it from intense sunlight and cold. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — collects pollen and nectar from its flowers - **Pollinates:** Alfalfa Caterpillar (*Colias eurytheme*) — as an adult butterfly, sips nectar from its tiny blooms - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and tender stems - **Eaten by:** Gray Field Slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — nibbles holes in its leaves and flowers ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 crevice alumroot? 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 crevice alumroot? 20-60 cm ### How wide does crevice alumroot spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on crevice alumroot? 0.5-1 cm ### When does crevice alumroot bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is crevice alumroot edible? Yes ### Is crevice alumroot toxic? None ### What is crevice alumroot's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Glines Canyon Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glines-canyon-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-caves-national-monument-and-preserve) — Oregon, US · National Park - [Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coquihalla-canyon-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [South Texada Island Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texada-island-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Anderson Bay Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-bay-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see crevice alumroot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/crevice-alumroot) ## 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*) --- Source: [Crevice Alumroot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crevice-alumroot)