Boechera perennans
Perennial rockcress
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Boechera perennans (Perennial rockcress) is a native California subshrub in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: woody caudex, multiple lateral stems, dentate leaves.
Perennial rockcress is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, eastern Peninsular Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in rocky slopes, gravelly soil, desert, and chaparral habitats at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces white to purple flowers 5 to 9 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with woody stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall, arising laterally from a woody caudex and covered with short-stalked, multi-rayed hairs. Its basal leaves are 3 to 15 millimeters wide with dentate edges, featuring short-stalked hairs with 3 to 6 rays. The fruit is a pendulous silique 3 to 7 centimeters long, hanging distinctively from slender pedicels.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species. Key features: woody caudex, multiple lateral stems, dentate leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, gravelly soil, desert, chaparral, low montane habitats
Elevation: 500-2000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inyo, Kern, Mono, El Dorado, Tulare, Mariposa
Outside California: to Utah, New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Boechera perennans blooms Feb-May.
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 perennans native to California?
Yes. Boechera perennans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera perennans bloom?
Boechera perennans blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Boechera perennans grow?
Boechera perennans occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inyo, Kern, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 500-2000 m.
What plant family does Boechera perennans belong to?
Boechera perennans is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera perennans grow in?
Boechera perennans grows in Rocky slopes, gravelly soil, desert, chaparral, low montane habitats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.