XSibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens)X
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Sibbaldia -or- Creeping Sibbaldia -or- Clover-Leaved Rose -or- Least Cinquefoil (Sibbaldia procumbens), family Rosaceae (Rose)
Sibbaldia is classed as a perennial 'shrub'. However many of the plants we encountered were so low to the ground that they hardly fit the common conception. Other plants stood up a bit but only to about 3 or 4 inches in height from ground level. Per Weber, procumbens is the only species in the genus found in the state of Colorado. The Colorado State University Extension website notes that the plants grow for several years before producing flowers. Named after Robert Sibbald, a Scottish botanist.
There are no recorded uses of Sibbaldia by Native American tribes.
Flower -
Plant location: Sighted at Rollins/Corona Pass, Colorado - July 26, 2015 - elevation 11,660'. The life zone of Sibbaldia is apline and subalpine - 10,000 to 13,500' elevation. Found in the following United States: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NH , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY.
Plant -
Bloom season: June and July. Netted leaf veins>
Foliage -
Understandably it would be easy to overlook this plant, especially in matt form. Also, at first glance, one might assume the plant was a clover of some kind. -
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Flowers, as described in C.K. Guennel's Guide to Colorado Wildflowers, tight clusters with 5 narrow, toothed yellow petals and 5 green hairy sepals. The fruits do not open upon maturity. -
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Sibbaldia continues to make a lovely color spot as it moves through it's season. This specimen was sighted hiking the new trail on Boreas Pass, called Black Powder Pass - trail#9188, on August 2, 2015. Elevation was approximately 11,500'.
Black Powder Pass was an absolute knockout for wildflowers this 2015 season. Anyone who can get up there in the next 1-2 weeks will want to do so. The array was litterally stunning. -
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