Flower profile

Cliff saxifrage

Micranthes petiolaris

Cliff saxifrage (Micranthes petiolaris) is a flowering plant in the Saxifragaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native to North Carolina

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 June–August.

8states where USDA records it

2,327NC sightings*

3,309U.S. sightings*

*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.
From Wikipedia's article Micranthes petiolaris, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 June–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,327 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #73 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in June–August.

Flowering records by month in North Carolina (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (493 records)

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?

For peopleNot well documented

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}

For petsNot well documented

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.

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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.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Hydatica petiolaris, Spathularia michauxii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 72 counties across 7 states; the most are in Virginia (25), North Carolina (23), Tennessee (9).

Other Micranthes on Bloomipedia (1): Virginia saxifrage.

More from the Saxifragaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Fringe cups, Creeping foamflower, Threeleaf foamflower, Twoleaf miterwort, Youth-on-age, Bulbous woodland star, Prairie alumroot, Leatherleaf saxifrage.

More North Carolina flowers

Crane-fly orchid

Tipularia discolor

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🌼 Blooms in NC: July–August

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in NC: June–September

Striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NC: May–June

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.