Sierra Wildflower: Snow Plant

Snow Plant

Sierra Wildflower

The snow plant (technically, Sarcodes Sanguinea Torr) is one of the Sierra’s most unique wild flowers and can only be found in California, Oregon and Nevada.  Spring is the best time to see these bright red plants. They pop out of the brown forest floor and grow to be about a foot in height.  The snow plant has no chlorophyll and gets nutrition from fungi underneath the soil.  For this reason they can not be transplanted. The snow plant is now protected from collection and destruction by California Law. 


Once seen, this plant is never forgotten!  You may start to spot them on your spring adventures hiking or biking around the area. Now you know more about these mysterious little forest gems and can really appreciate them when you see them. 


Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012