Spinescent Fameflower, Spiny Fameflower: Phemeranthus spinescens (Synonym: Talinum spinescens)

Two close-up images of the flower of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Wilson Creek in central Washington........June 25, 2006.

Spinescent fameflower is an attractive perennial wildflower which forms low cushions up to 15 cm wide with clusters of short leafy stems up to 8 mm thick. The leaves are linear, fleshy and rounded in cross-section, and range from 1.5-2.5 cm long and 1-2.5 mm wide. They are deciduous, leaving only the hard basal midrib which form spiny projections along the stem.

The 10-25 flowers are attractive and loosely arranged in ascending cymes 2-15 cm long. The sepals are about 3 mm long while the 5 petals are 7-10 mm long and 5-7 mm wide. The petals are broadly elliptic-obovate in shape and pale to deep rose or a bright crimson-magenta color.

Spinescent fameflower is found on rocky basalt outcrops and in scabland amongst sagebrush.

Spinescent fameflower may be found from Lincoln, Douglas,Grant and Yakima counties in central Washington south to north-central Oregon.

The photo at left shows spinescent fameflower as seen at Wilson Creek in central Washington..........June 25, 2006. The photo at right shows is a close-up of the clusters of fleshy, linear leaves of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Wilson Creek in central Washington.........June 25, 2006.

The image above shows a potted spinescent fameflower as seen in the webmaster's garden in Gresham, OR.......June 25, 2025. This plant is over 15 years old and flowers much of the summer when put in full sunshine with occasional watering. During the winter, it is placed under the eaves of the south side of the house for rain protection with watering perhaps once or twice a month to simulate winter rainfall from its east Cascades, arid habitat. Note: The fleshy leaves whither completely so that the plant looks completely dead from late summer through early spring.

The photo above shows the basal leaves and stems of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Frenchman Coulee, to the east of the Columbia River near Vantage, WA...........June 23, 1997.