Alpine springbeauty is an edible but difficult high-elevation plant best viewed as a niche carbohydrate source rather than a dependable wild staple. Its ecology and harvest difficulty mean it is often better appreciated as a botanical ally of alpine landscapes than as a routine food plant. Growing Conditions: It is adapted to rocky slopes, talus, and alpine scree where soils are thin, cold, and well-drained. It survives intense sun, high winds, and long winters by relying on deep rooting and a persistent crown. Moisture from snowmelt is often the primary driver of growth. Habitat & Range: In the Southwest it barely enters northern New Mexico, but it is more characteristic of the Rocky Mountains northward. It typically occurs from montane to alpine elevations, often well above 2,500 m, where tree cover thins or disappears. Distribution is patchy and tied to suitable rocky substrates. Size & Landscape Performance: Plants are small above ground but structurally robust below ground. In alpine habitats, individuals can be long-lived, and regrowth is slow, which makes heavy harvesting ecologically risky. It performs as a classic alpine perennial: small, tough, and persistent. Cultivation (Horticulture): Cultivation is uncommon and challenging because the plant is adapted to alpine conditions and deep rooting in rocky substrates. It may survive in specialized rock gardens with cold winters, sharp drainage, and careful moisture timing. Cultivation for food is generally impractical. Pests & Problems: The biggest issues are access, rocky extraction difficulty, and habitat sensitivity. Even when edible structures exist, harvesting can require prying in rock fractures, which can cause substantial site disturbance. Weather and altitude risk often outweigh the food reward. Pollination: Likely pollinated by alpine bees and flies active during the short summer window. The showy petals and striping function as nectar guides in an environment where pollinator opportunities are limited but intense during favorable days. Identification & Habit: This perennial produces multiple stems from a persistent, scarred caudex that sits at the crown of a deep, often purplish-red taproot. Leaves include many basal blades and two opposite stem leaves, and the flowers resemble other springbeauties with five petals often striped. In alpine slopes and talus, its clustered stems and the tough, persistent crown structure help distinguish it from small annuals. FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Claytonia genus. COMMON NAMES: Alpine springbeauty. USDA Hardiness Zones: Roughly Zones 2–6 (high-elevation, cold-adapted). Typical Size: 3–20 cm tall; perennial with thick caudex over a deep taproot. Prefers a damp peaty soil and a position in full sun[1, 164]. Requires a very well-drained lime-free soil[164, 200]. A very cold hardy plant, succeeding outdoors in all parts of Britain, but it is liable to rot if the soil is wet[60, 200]. A good plant for the rock garden[60]. Plants are prone to aphis infestation[188]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].