Arabis eschscholtziana
Eschscholtz's hairy rockcress
(c) Kieran Hanrahan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Arabis eschscholtziana (Eschscholtz's hairy rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by white flowers and basally lobed cauline leaves.
Eschscholtz's hairy rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern coastal California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in gravelly soils, open woodlands, and rock crevices at elevations up to 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pink flowers in delicate clusters with petals 6.5 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall that branch toward the top, it develops a sparse caudex with simple to forked hairs. Its basal leaves are narrowly oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, 2 to 13 centimeters long, with entire or slightly toothed edges that may be hairy or smooth. The fruit develops as an erect to ascending pod 3.5 to 6.5 centimeters long with small seeds nestled within.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are white flowers and basally lobed cauline leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly soils, swales, open woodland, meadows, rock crevices, ledges
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Marin, Del Norte, Tehama, Plumas, Shasta, Mono, Trinity, Modoc, Colusa, Mariposa, Inyo, Butte, Tuolumne, Placer
Outside California: to Alaska, Yukon Territory, Wyoming, Nevada
Bloom period
Arabis eschscholtziana blooms May-Jul.
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 eschscholtziana native to California?
Yes. Arabis eschscholtziana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Arabis eschscholtziana bloom?
Arabis eschscholtziana blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Arabis eschscholtziana grow?
Arabis eschscholtziana occurs in San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Marin, Del Norte, Tehama, Plumas, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Arabis eschscholtziana belong to?
Arabis eschscholtziana is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Arabis.
What habitat does Arabis eschscholtziana grow in?
Arabis eschscholtziana grows in Gravelly soils, swales, open woodland, meadows, rock crevices, ledges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.