Barbarea vulgaris
Yellow rocket, Yellow Rocket
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow rocket) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by short pods, long style, and upper leaf shape.
Yellow rocket is a naturalized perennial found in Great Basin regions in disturbed areas, riverbanks, grasslands, and fields at elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long with four distinct petals. Growing with branched stems 2 to 9 meters tall, it develops an erect structure with glabrous to sparsely hairy foliage. Its basal leaves feature 1 to 3 lateral lobe pairs, with upper cauline leaves displaying coarse dentate edges. The plant produces elongated fruits 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, which remain erect or slightly ascending on the stem.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by short pods, long style, and upper leaf shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas, riverbanks, grassland, fields
Elevation: 1000-3000 m
California counties: Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Fresno, Butte, San Bernardino, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Nevada, Alameda, Alpine, Trinity, El Dorado, Solano, Shasta, Mariposa, Inyo, Monterey, Colusa
Outside California: to Alaska, Canada, most of United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Barbarea vulgaris blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Sisymbrium: Upper stems are distinctly angular-ridged versus rounded stems.; vs Brassica: Stem leaves clasp with lobed bases versus non-clasping leaves in Brassica.; vs Mutarda: Found in wet streambank habitats versus drier upland sites.; vs Rorippa: Seeds arranged in one row per pod versus two rows in Rorippa.; vs Erysimum: Stem leaves clasp at base with lobes versus non-clasping entire leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barbarea vulgaris native to California?
No. Barbarea vulgaris is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Barbarea vulgaris bloom?
Barbarea vulgaris blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Barbarea vulgaris grow?
Barbarea vulgaris occurs in Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Tulare, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3000 m.
What plant family does Barbarea vulgaris belong to?
Barbarea vulgaris is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Barbarea.
What habitat does Barbarea vulgaris grow in?
Barbarea vulgaris grows in Uncommon. Disturbed areas, riverbanks, grassland, fields.
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.