Boechera parishii
Parish's rockcress
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Boechera parishii (Parish's rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: large flowers, short pods with long styles, limited range.
Parish's rockcress is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Transverse Ranges in gravelly hillsides within sagebrush-juniper-pine associations at elevations of 1,900 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers 8 to 13 millimeters long with distinctive petal width of 2.5 to 4 millimeters. Growing with slender stems 3 to 14 centimeters tall, it emerges from a slightly woody caudex with stems bearing short-stalked, multi-rayed hairs. Its basal leaves are narrow, 0.5 to 2 millimeters wide, with complex multi-rayed hairs, while cauline leaves are sparse and minimally lobed. The fruit develops as an ascending silique 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long, containing 12 to 20 seeds arranged in a single row.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species. Key features: large flowers, short pods with long styles, limited range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly hillsides in sagebrush-juniper-pine associations
Elevation: 1900-2800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside
Bloom period
Boechera parishii blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 parishii native to California?
Yes. Boechera parishii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera parishii bloom?
Boechera parishii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Boechera parishii grow?
Boechera parishii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, at elevations of 1900-2800 m.
What plant family does Boechera parishii belong to?
Boechera parishii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
Is Boechera parishii rare or endangered?
Boechera parishii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.