Boechera divaricarpa
Spreadingpod rockcress, Spreadingpod Rockcress
(c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Boechera divaricarpa (Spreadingpod rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by horizontal fruits and many cauline leaves distinctive.
Spreadingpod rockcress is a California native perennial found in the high Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau on rock outcrops, talus slopes, and gravelly hillsides at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers approximately 6 to 9 millimeters long with petals 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall, the plant emerges from a short-lived caudex with stems bearing simple and star-shaped hairs near the base. Its basal leaves are 2 to 10 millimeters wide, entire or minutely toothed, with sessile star-shaped hairs, while cauline leaves range from 15 to 56 millimeters long. The fruit is distinctive, with spreading-ascending pods 4.5 to 11 centimeters long and 1.7 to 2.5 millimeters wide, containing 114 to 142 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; horizontal fruits and many cauline leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: rock outcrops, talus slopes, gravelly hillsides
Elevation: 900-2200 m
California counties: Alpine, Modoc, Siskiyou, Trinity, Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Tuolumne, Mono, Madera, Humboldt, Fresno, Inyo, Amador
Outside California: to Washington, Wyoming
Bloom period
Boechera divaricarpa blooms May-Jul.
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 divaricarpa native to California?
Yes. Boechera divaricarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera divaricarpa bloom?
Boechera divaricarpa blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Boechera divaricarpa grow?
Boechera divaricarpa occurs in Alpine, Modoc, Siskiyou, Trinity, Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 900-2200 m.
What plant family does Boechera divaricarpa belong to?
Boechera divaricarpa is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera divaricarpa grow in?
Boechera divaricarpa grows in rock outcrops, talus slopes, gravelly hillsides.
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.