Species Factsheets
Helianthemum bicknellii
Bicknell's Hoary Rockrose
State Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
PBS Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
Federal Status:
Global Rank: G5
rank interpretation
State Rank: S2
Did You Know?
Another common name for this species is frostweed, which comes from the fact that after a frost the stems burst with sap oozing out that freezes into ice crystal ribbons.
Description
Bicknell's hoary rockrose (Helianthemum bicknellii) is a perennial herb with a slender hairy stem that may grow to about 50cm in height, but is often much shorter. The leaves are alternately arranged, linear to narrowly elliptic in shape, hairy, up to 2.5cm in length, and stalkless or nearly so. The small flowers, appearing in June and July, have five yellow petals that are about 8-12mm in length. These flowers are clustered in the axils of the leaves on the upper part of the stem, as are flowers produced later in the season that remain closed and do not have expanded petals, but do produce fruits. The fruit is a capsule containing brownish seeds that have net-like surface markings.
Rank Justification
Imperiled in the nation or state because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the nation or state.
PABS
The PA Biological Survey (PABS) considers Bicknell's hoary rockrose to be a species of special concern, based on the few occurrences that have been recently confirmed and the specialized habitat. It has a PA legal rarity status and a PABS suggested rarity status of Endangered. Fewer than ten populations are currently known from the state.
Habitat
It grows in open, rocky places that are at least seasonally dry, such as riverbed scours, exposed banks and slopes, upland woods, bedrock outcrops, and serpentine barrens.
Survey Dates
Flowers June - early July
Distribution
In Pennsylvania, this species has been documented historically in numerous widespread counties.
Threats
The upland populations of Bicknell's hoary rockrose have threats from habitat loss, natural succession, invasive species, and quarrying.
Management
Because of the preference of the species for relatively open habitats, active management, such as fire, mowing, or invasive species removal, may be required to maintain the proper successional stage and ecological conditions for the species to thrive. The viability of the riverine populations will require maintaining the natural hydrology of the Susquehanna River, with its seasonal fluctuations in water levels, as well as retaining the natural conditions of the shorelines and islands.
Conservation Status Map
NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org.
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/hoary-frostweed
- NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at https://www.natureserve.org/explorer
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018.
- Rhoads, A.F. and W.M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhoads, A.F. and T.A. Block.
- 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
