Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 3, 2004.

Even a walking pace is just too fast if we really want to see the world.  Snowlover is one of those tiny alpine plants (the ones pictured on this page are just 2-3 inches high) that evades you unless you search at the slowest pace.  And then, as happened to us, you may find many Snowlover plants, for the plants grow near each other by the dozen or more.

Snowlover has many tinges of purple contrasting with the bright white flowers. Leaves are thick, nearly vertical, and almost as high as the flower.

George Bentham (1800-1884) named this genus and species in 1846.  "Chionophila" is Greek for "snow lover".  Edwin James was a naturalist with the Long Expedition of 1819-1820.  (More biographical information about James.)

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 3, 2004.

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Cinnamon Pass, August 1, 2007 and Sharkstooth Trail, June 27, 2013.

Snowlover flowers are flattened, not a very common attribute of flowers. The flowers are also in an unusual one-sided cluster ("secund").

Stare into an open Chionophila flower and have another view of symmetry and beauty.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Chionophila jamesii