Boechera inyoensis
Inyo rockcress
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Boechera inyoensis (Inyo rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by tall stature, many cauline leaves, and often 2-rowed seeds distinctive.
Inyo rockcress is a California native perennial found in eastern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada east of the Sierra, and desert mountains in limestone, volcanic outcrops, and clay soils of desert scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with petals 5 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 25 to 65 centimeters tall, it emerges from a basal rosette with short-stalked, multi-rayed hairs. Its basal leaves are entire and narrow, 1 to 4 millimeters wide, with short-stalked, 3 to 10-rayed hairs covering the surface. The fruit is a distinctive spreading to widely pendent silique 3.7 to 6.5 centimeters long, containing 74 to 134 seeds arranged in two rows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; tall stature, many cauline leaves, and often 2-rowed seeds distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone, volcanic outcrops, clay soils, in desert scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1200-4000 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mono, Sierra, Plumas, Alpine
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Boechera inyoensis blooms Apr-Jun.
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 inyoensis native to California?
Yes. Boechera inyoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera inyoensis bloom?
Boechera inyoensis blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Boechera inyoensis grow?
Boechera inyoensis occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Tuolumne, Tulare, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1200-4000 m.
What plant family does Boechera inyoensis belong to?
Boechera inyoensis is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera inyoensis grow in?
Boechera inyoensis grows in Limestone, volcanic outcrops, clay soils, in desert scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.