Bloomipedia
Leatherleaf saxifrage (Leptarrhena pyrolifolia)
Photo: Jason Grant via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Leatherleaf saxifrage

Leptarrhena pyrolifolia

Native to Alaska

Leatherleaf saxifrage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

5states
446AK sightings*
1,261U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Leptarrhena pyrolifolia is a species of flowering plants belonging to the family Saxifragaceae. It is the sole species in genus Leptarrhena.

  • 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 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 446 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #100 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist

Leatherleaf saxifrage gift ideas

Handmade leatherleaf saxifrage gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (46 records)

There are only a handful of Alaska flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 leatherleaf saxifrage in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat.

More Alaska flowers

Threeleaf foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)

Threeleaf foamflower

Tiarella trifoliata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–August
Purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia)

Purple saxifrage

Saxifraga oppositifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: May–July
Prickly saxifrage (Saxifraga tricuspidata)

Prickly saxifrage

Saxifraga tricuspidata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: May–July

Sources