Boechera lemmonii
Lemmon's rockcress
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera lemmonii (Lemmon's rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by one-sided fruits and short pod length distinctive.
Lemmon's rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Warner Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in alpine and subalpine cliffs, talus slopes, and gravelly habitats at elevations of 2,000 to 4,350 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate purple to lavender flowers 3.5 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall emerging from a woody caudex, it develops from basal rosettes with stems generally arising at ground surface. Its basal leaves are narrow, 1.5 to 5 millimeters wide, with short-stalked hairs having 3 to 9 rays, while cauline leaves range from 2 to 12 with minimal or absent basal lobes. The fruit develops as a spreading-ascending silique 1.6 to 4.4 centimeters long, containing 28 to 44 seeds in a single row.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; one-sided fruits and short pod length distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs, talus slopes, gravelly soil, in alpine, subalpine habitats
Elevation: 2000-4350 m
California counties: Mariposa, El Dorado, Fresno, Plumas, Tuolumne, Mono, Alpine, Tulare, Madera, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Kern, San Bernardino, Shasta, Tehama, Placer, Sierra
Outside California: to Alaska, Colorado
Bloom period
Boechera lemmonii 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 lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Boechera lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera lemmonii bloom?
Boechera lemmonii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Boechera lemmonii grow?
Boechera lemmonii occurs in Mariposa, El Dorado, Fresno, Plumas, Tuolumne, Mono, Alpine, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 2000-4350 m.
What plant family does Boechera lemmonii belong to?
Boechera lemmonii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera lemmonii grow in?
Boechera lemmonii grows in Cliffs, talus slopes, gravelly soil, in alpine, subalpine habitats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.