# rock harlequin (*Capnoides sempervirens*) The rock harlequin is a special plant that grows in rocky places. It has beautiful green leaves and tiny yellow flowers that look like little stars. This plant loves sunshine and can be found in nature's hidden spots. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![rock harlequin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pale_corydalis_closeup.jpg&width=800) Photo: Aaron Carlson, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pale_corydalis_closeup.jpg) ## Appearance The rock harlequin has delicate, fern-like blue-green leaves. Its small, spurred flowers are bright yellow, often with pinkish or reddish tips, appearing in loose clusters. This combination makes its jester-like blossoms stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Papaveraceae - **Genus:** Capnoides ## Interesting facts - It's a distant cousin to poppies, even though it doesn't look like one! - Its unusual name, "harlequin," describes its colorful, jester-like flowers! - This plant's leaves are so delicate, they look like tiny green feathers. - When its seeds are ripe, their pods can burst open with a surprising pop! ## Special abilities - **Ant Gardener:** Rock harlequin produces seeds with a tasty, oily treat that attracts ants, which then carry the seeds to new places, helping the plant spread. - **Cool Season Bloomer:** Rock harlequin can bloom in cooler spring and summer weather, making its bright flowers a welcome sight when other plants are just starting to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — attracts with nectar - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen and nectar - **Depends on:** Small Seed-Harvester Ant (*Aphaenogaster picea*) — disperses seeds via elaiosomes ## 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. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [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 rock harlequin? 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 rock harlequin? 15-60 cm ### How wide does rock harlequin spread? 15-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on rock harlequin? 1-1.5 cm ### When does rock harlequin bloom? Late spring to late summer ### Is rock harlequin edible? No ### Is rock harlequin toxic? Mild ### What is rock harlequin's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Black Tern Bog State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-tern-bog-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Grundy Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grundy-lake-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Guilford Historic Town Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guilford-historic-town-center) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Ice Age Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ice-age-trail) — Wisconsin, US · National Park [View all places to see rock harlequin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rock-harlequin) ## 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: [Rock Harlequin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rock-harlequin)