Boechera pauciflora
Hairy stem rockcress
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera pauciflora (Hairy stem rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: very hairy stems, horizontal/pendant fruits, many cauline leaves.
Hairy stem rockcress is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains, Great Basin, and high-elevation rocky areas in sagebrush zones, scrub, and conifer forest edges at elevations of 700 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces lavender to near-white flowers in clusters with 17 to 60 individual blooms. Growing with slender stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it features a slightly woody caudex and stems covered with fine, branching hairs. Its basal leaves are 3 to 10 millimeters wide, dentate with stalked, multi-rayed hairs, while cauline leaves range from 14 to 60 millimeters long with variable hairiness. The fruit develops as a horizontal to pendant silique 5.5 to 10.5 centimeters long, containing 80 to 162 seeds arranged in a single row.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species. Key features: very hairy stems, horizontal/pendant fruits, many cauline leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky soil in sagebrush areas, scrub, conifer forest edges
Elevation: 700-2500 m
California counties: Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Inyo, Fresno, Siskiyou, Nevada, Tehama, Sierra, Lassen, Shasta, Alpine, Tulare, Humboldt, El Dorado
Outside California: to British Columbia, Utah
Bloom period
Boechera pauciflora blooms May-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 pauciflora native to California?
Yes. Boechera pauciflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera pauciflora bloom?
Boechera pauciflora blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Boechera pauciflora grow?
Boechera pauciflora occurs in Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Inyo, Fresno, Siskiyou, Nevada, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 700-2500 m.
What plant family does Boechera pauciflora belong to?
Boechera pauciflora is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera pauciflora grow in?
Boechera pauciflora grows in Rocky soil in sagebrush areas, scrub, conifer forest edges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.