aka Western Moss Heather, Merten’s Mountain Heather, Merten’s Moss-heather. A regular companion of those trekking the high country. Hundreds of white little bells, about 1/4″ (6 mm), cover the low evergreen shrub with branches reaching up to slightly over one foot. They grow very slowly at high attitudes and may survive for 15 – 20 years. Very common in subalpine meadows and rocky slopes. Found to 8,000′ elevation but best developed around 5,500′ – 6,500′ elevation.