Boechera calderi
Calder's rockcress
(c) Allison Gray, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera calderi (Calder's rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by erect appressed fruits and 2-rowed seeds distinctive.
Calder's rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Modoc Plateau, and White and Inyo Mountains on exposed rocky ridges, meadows, and open forest near timberline at elevations of 2,050 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces purple flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long with petals 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall emerging from a short-lived basal rosette, it has a non-woody caudex. Its basal leaves are 1.5 to 6 millimeters wide, covered with sessile 2 to 4-rayed hairs, while cauline leaves range from 5 to 17 with small 1 to 3 millimeter basal lobes. The fruit is an erect, appressed silique 3.5 to 6.5 centimeters long, containing 64 to 134 seeds arranged in two rows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; erect appressed fruits and 2-rowed seeds distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Exposed rocky ridges, meadows, open forest near timberline
Elevation: 2050-3350 m
Outside California: to Yukon Territory, Wyoming
Bloom period
Boechera calderi blooms Jun-Aug.
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 calderi native to California?
Yes. Boechera calderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera calderi bloom?
Boechera calderi blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Boechera calderi belong to?
Boechera calderi is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera calderi grow in?
Boechera calderi grows in Exposed rocky ridges, meadows, open forest near timberline.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.