Bloomipedia
Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Yerba mansa

Anemopsis californica

Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) is a flowering plant in the Saururaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Yerba mansa is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

11states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
10,153U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Nevada, New Mexico

Quick look

The monotypic genus Anemopsis has only one species, Anemopsis californica, with the common names yerba mansa or lizard tail.

  • It belongs to the Saururaceae 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 11 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada and New Mexico. NatureServe
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 934 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #33 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 784 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #75 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (840 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
NevadaNativeApril–July934
New MexicoNativeJune–July784

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
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. NAC 527.010
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OK (SH), UT (S2). (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.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada. NatureServe

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 yerba mansa in 11 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Valencia.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Yerba mansa a high shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 9.0 and winter lows down to 22 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
None
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.5 to 9.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
22 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
280
Annual precipitation range
6 to 18 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ANCA10. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 66 counties across 9 states; the most are in California (23), New Mexico (15), Arizona (10).

More from the Saururaceae family (1 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lizard's tail.

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Sources