Boechera breweri
Brewer's rock cress
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Boechera breweri (Brewer's rock cress) is a native California subshrub in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by overlaps with subspecies, making differentiation complex.
Brewer's rock cress is a California native perennial found in rocky mountain habitats at elevations between 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate purple to lavender flowers 7 to 12 millimeters long with distinctive petals. Growing with slender stems 20 to 45 centimeters tall, it emerges from a woody caudex with stems arising from a basal rosette. Its leaves range from 3 to 11 millimeters wide, with basal leaves covered in long-stalked, multi-rayed hairs and lower stem leaves showing subtle dentate edges. The plant produces elongated fruits 3.5 to 10 centimeters long that ascend slightly from the stem.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; overlaps with subspecies, making differentiation complex
Habitat and range
California counties: Ventura, Butte, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake, Sierra, Plumas, Kern, Placer, Tehama, Glenn, Siskiyou, Shasta, Sutter, Fresno, Contra Costa, Monterey, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Colusa
How to tell it apart
vs Arabis: Boechera pods hang downward or curve and are wider (2mm+); Arabis pods stand rigidly erect and are narrower.; vs Matthiola: Boechera has flattened pods; Matthiola has cylindrical pods and densely hairy gray-green foliage.; vs Streptanthus: Boechera petals narrow gradually without a claw; Streptanthus petals have a distinct narrow claw at base.; vs Penstemon: Boechera has four-petaled flowers and seed pods; Penstemon has tubular five-lobed flowers.; vs Caulanthus: Boechera is perennial with a woody base; Caulanthus is typically annual or biennial without a woody caudex.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boechera breweri native to California?
Yes. Boechera breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Boechera breweri grow?
Boechera breweri occurs in Ventura, Butte, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake, Sierra, Plumas, Kern and other counties.
What plant family does Boechera breweri belong to?
Boechera breweri is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
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.