Arabis blepharophylla
Coast rockcress, coast rockcress, coast rockcress
(c) Jeff Harter, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Arabis blepharophylla (Coast rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by distinctive coastal habitat and purple flowers.
Coast rockcress is a California native perennial found in the central Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area on rocky outcrops, bluffs, and grassy slopes at elevations of 50 to 300 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces rose-purple flowers 14 to 18 millimeters long, widely spoon-shaped and striking against its rocky habitat. Growing with 1 to few stems 6 to 25 centimeters tall, the plant forms a delicate clump with simple or few-branched stems covered in simple to forked hairs. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, 2 to 8 centimeters long, with entire or slightly dentate margins and a soft, hairy texture. The plant produces erect fruits 2 to 4 centimeters long with slender, hairy pedicels, each containing 20 to 28 small round seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive coastal habitat and purple flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky outcrops, bluffs, grassy slopes
Elevation: 50-300 m
California counties: Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Contra Costa, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Arabis blepharophylla blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Boechera: Arabis pods are narrower (under 2mm vs 2mm+) and consistently straight; Boechera pods are often curved.; vs Matthiola: Arabis has stalked star-shaped hairs and erect narrow pods; Matthiola has soft unbranched hairs and stouter pods.; vs Raphanus: Arabis has tiny star-shaped hairs and thin erect pods; Raphanus has larger flowers and thick beaded pods.; vs Pelargonium: Arabis has four petals and narrow upright pods; Pelargonium has five petals and beak-like fruits.; vs Phlox: Arabis has four separate petals and seed pods; Phlox has fused tubular flowers and capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arabis blepharophylla native to California?
Yes. Arabis blepharophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arabis blepharophylla bloom?
Arabis blepharophylla blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Arabis blepharophylla grow?
Arabis blepharophylla occurs in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, at elevations of 50-300 m.
What plant family does Arabis blepharophylla belong to?
Arabis blepharophylla is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Arabis.
Is Arabis blepharophylla rare or endangered?
Arabis blepharophylla carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.