Boechera covillei
Coville's rockcress
(c) Sam Eberhard, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Eberhard · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera covillei (Coville's rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by large winged seeds and erect wavy fruits distinctive.
Coville's rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and high Cascade Range in rocky alpine meadows and open conifer forests at elevations of 2,200 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers 5 to 6 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with slender stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall emerging from a slightly woody base, it forms a compact basal rosette near ground surface. Its basal leaves are narrow, 1.5 to 5 millimeters wide, with simple margin hairs and glabrous leaf surfaces. The fruit develops as an ascending, glabrous silique 3.5 to 5 centimeters long with slightly wavy edges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; large winged seeds and erect wavy fruits distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes in alpine meadows, open conifer forest
Elevation: 2200-3500 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Boechera covillei blooms Jul-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 covillei native to California?
Yes. Boechera covillei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera covillei bloom?
Boechera covillei blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Boechera covillei belong to?
Boechera covillei is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera covillei grow in?
Boechera covillei grows in Rocky slopes in alpine meadows, open conifer forest.
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.