Gypsum Springbeauty
Claytonia gypsophiloides
Care
full sun, part shade
0–0ft tall
Friendly
Prized
Leaves eaten raw in salads or cooked as potherb
Endemic to gypsum outcrops in western Kern County near the Temblor Range, 2000-3000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Gypsum Springbeauty in full sun to part shade in a location with rocky or well-draining soil - it naturally grows in serpentine soils in California's Coast Ranges and prefers moist conditions. This is an annual wildflower, so plant it in fall or early spring to take advantage of the cool season rains it evolved to thrive in. Space plants about 6 inches apart to accommodate their modest mature height of 6–10 inches.
After Planting
Water regularly during the growing season to keep soil consistently moist, mimicking the moist rocky areas where this plant naturally occurs. As an annual, Gypsum Springbeauty will complete its life cycle in a single season - enjoy the delicate pink and white flowers it produces, then allow it to self-seed if you want it to return next year, or clear it out and replant the following season.
Visit Calscape for more information about Gypsum Springbeauty
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Listed under ESA and CESA
Federal and California CESA Threatened
Wildlife Supported
Birds
Uses dense gypsum scrub vegetation for nesting shelter and protection
Mammals
Primary seed predator/disperser in gypsum scrub habitats
Insects
Larvae feed on plant tissues in spring after overwinter diapause
Reptiles
Basking and nesting habitat in spring emergence
Uses plant clumps for thermoregulation and predator refuge