Boechera pratincola
Meadow rockcress
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera pratincola (Meadow rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: erect appressed fruits, prominent leaf lobes, meadow habitat.
Meadow rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada Mountains in rocky meadows, forest edges, and slopes at elevations of 1,900 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate lavender flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long on slender inflorescences. Growing with stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall emerging from a basal rosette, it has a short-lived perennial habit with branches covered in tiny multi-rayed hairs. Its basal leaves are 1.5 to 7 millimeters wide, entire or minutely toothed, with sessile star-shaped hairs covering the surface. The fruit develops as an erect, narrow silique 4 to 6.5 centimeters long, holding 60 to 140 seeds in two compact rows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species. Key features: erect appressed fruits, prominent leaf lobes, meadow habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, in meadows, forest edges
Elevation: 1900-3200 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Boechera pratincola 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 pratincola native to California?
Yes. Boechera pratincola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera pratincola bloom?
Boechera pratincola blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Boechera pratincola belong to?
Boechera pratincola is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera pratincola grow in?
Boechera pratincola grows in Rocky slopes, in meadows, forest edges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.