Flower profile
Cliff saxifrage
Micranthes petiolaris
Cliff saxifrage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In North Carolina it's most often seen in bloom in May–September.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: North Carolina
Quick look
Micranthes petiolaris, commonly known as cliff saxifrage, is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family. It is native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains where it is found on exposed boulders and rocky seeps, often at high elevation. It is a perennial that produces small white flowers with yellow spots in the summer.
- It belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina. NatureServe
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,327 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #71 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
Cliff saxifrage gift ideas
Handmade cliff saxifrage gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Cliff saxifrage art print
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Cliff saxifrage greeting card
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Cliff saxifrage mug
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Cliff saxifrage earrings
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Cliff saxifrage embroidery pattern
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Cliff saxifrage sticker
When does it bloom?
In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in May–September.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KY (S2), WV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records cliff saxifrage in 8 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey.
More North Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SAMI5.
- iNaturalist, Micranthes petiolaris: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Micranthes petiolaris (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Micranthes petiolaris (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Ashwin Srinivasan via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.