# Tolmie's Saxifrage (*micranthes tolmiei*)

Tolmie's Saxifrage is a beautiful flowering plant that loves to grow in rocky places. Its tiny white flowers bloom in spring, making it a lovely sight in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Rocky slopes and moist, shaded areas, often in forests.
- **Also known as:** Moss Saxifrage, Rock Saxifrage

![Tolmie's Saxifrage](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Micranthes_tolmiei_21966.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Micranthes_tolmiei_21966.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tolmie'S Saxifrage is a small plant forming low mats of thick, spoon-shaped leaves that are often reddish underneath. It sends up slender, reddish stems topped with clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers, usually bright white with yellow or pink anthers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Saxifragaceae
- **Genus:** Micranthes

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny white flowers are like beacons, attracting small mountain flies and insects!
- Some people call it 'snowpatch saxifrage' because of its favorite chilly habitat.
- The underside of its leaves can show a cool reddish or purplish tint!
- You might often find this resilient plant growing right next to melting snow patches!

## Special abilities

- **Alpine Survivor:** Tolmie'S Saxifrage can grow in harsh, cold mountain environments, thanks to its sturdy, low-growing form that withstands strong winds.
- **Rock Hugger:** Tolmie'S Saxifrage has roots that can wedge into tiny cracks in rocks, helping it find purchase and moisture in barren places.
- **Water Saver:** Tolmie'S Saxifrage has thick, fleshy leaves that store precious water, helping it survive dry spells in its mountain home.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-15 cm
- **Spread:** 1-5 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Hoary Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hoary-marmot) (*Marmota caligata*) — Marmots graze on the leaves.
- **Eaten by:** American Pika (*Ochotona princeps*) — Pikas collect and store its leaves for winter food.
- **Depends on:** Pacific-slope Flycatcher (*Empidonax difficilis*) — Preys on insects that visit the flowers.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tolmie's Saxifrage?

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 Tolmie's Saxifrage?

2-15 cm

### How wide does Tolmie's Saxifrage spread?

1-5 cm

### How big are the flowers on Tolmie's Saxifrage?

0.3-0.7 cm

### When does Tolmie's Saxifrage bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Tolmie's Saxifrage edible?

Yes

### Is Tolmie's Saxifrage toxic?

None

### What is Tolmie's Saxifrage's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## 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: [Tolmie's Saxifrage: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tolmies-saxifrage)