About Polemonium eximium Greene
Polemonium eximium, commonly known as skypilot or showy sky pilot, is a perennial plant in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. It grows at high altitudes, mostly above 10,000 feet, or 3,000 meters, and is endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California, where it grows in the talus of high mountain slopes. Wildflower enthusiasts regard this species as one of the finest Sierra wildflowers, and consider finding it a highly rewarding experience. This species occurs mostly at elevations ranging from 10,000 to 14,000 feet (3,000 to 4,300 m) in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada. It mostly grows in colonies in harsh, open habitats above 10,000 feet (3,000 m), in rocky areas that appear to have almost no soil, and is rarely found growing alongside other plant species. It can be found most notably at the upper reaches of Mt. Whitney, accessible along both the main trail and the mountaineer's route, as well as on the southern flanks of Mt Langley in the Inyo National Forest. It also grows near the summit of Mount Dana in Yosemite National Park.
