# dwarf lewisia (*Lewisia pygmaea*)

Dwarf Lewisia is a tiny, beautiful flower that grows in rocky places. It has bright pink or white petals and loves to soak up the sunshine in the mountains.

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

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

Photo: Bryan Harry, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lewisiapygmaea.jpg)

## Appearance

The dwarf lewisia has a small rosette of narrow, fleshy leaves and produces star-shaped flowers. These delicate blossoms range from pink to white or yellow, often displaying striking darker veins, adding a vibrant splash of color to rocky mountain landscapes.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Montiaceae
- **Genus:** Lewisia

## Interesting facts

- Even though it's tiny, it can be found growing in very high mountains!
- Its flowers often glow with different colors, sometimes even striped!
- Some Lewisia plants are called 'bitter-root' because of how their roots taste.
- This little plant loves sunshine and opens its blossoms to greet the day!

## Special abilities

- **Early Bloomer:** This plant can push its colorful flowers through melting snow, allowing it to bloom quickly after the long winter.
- **Rock Gripper:** Dwarf lewisia can grow in rocky crevices and gravelly soil, using a sturdy taproot to anchor itself tightly.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-10 cm
- **Spread:** 5-15 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Its fuzzy body helps transfer pollen between flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — This rodent sometimes munches on its leaves and flowers.
- **Pollinates:** [Black-tailed Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-bumble-bee) (*Bombus melanopygus*) — Another fuzzy bee important for carrying its pollen.

## Traits

- [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.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick wildflowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify dwarf lewisia?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is dwarf lewisia?

2-10 cm

### How wide does dwarf lewisia spread?

5-15 cm

### How big are the flowers on dwarf lewisia?

1-2.5 cm

### When does dwarf lewisia bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is dwarf lewisia edible?

No

### Is dwarf lewisia toxic?

None

### What is dwarf lewisia's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Dwarf Lewisia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dwarf-lewisia)