Boechera retrofracta
Reflexed rockcress
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Boechera retrofracta (Reflexed rockcress) is a native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key features: strongly reflexed appressed fruits, narrow pods, many cauline leaves.
Reflexed rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in rock outcrops, sandy soil, grassland, sagebrush steppe, and open conifer forest at elevations of 900 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white to lavender flowers 4 to 8 millimeters long in inflorescences with 15 to 140 flowers. Growing 1.5 to 10 decimeters tall with stems emerging from a basal rosette and featuring short-stalked, 2 to 8-rayed hairs, it has a short-lived, non-woody caudex. Its basal leaves are 2 to 7 millimeters wide, entire or occasionally dentate, while cauline leaves range from 15 to 40, with distal leaves being hairy. The distinctive fruit is strongly reflexed, 3.5 to 9 centimeters long, and generally appressed with 60 to 116 ovules.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species. Key features: strongly reflexed appressed fruits, narrow pods, many cauline leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: rock outcrops, sandy soil, in grassland, sagebrush steppe, open conifer forest
Elevation: 900-3312 m
California counties: Kern, San Diego, Lassen, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, El Dorado, Trinity, Modoc, Sierra, Plumas, Siskiyou, Nevada, Mariposa, Fresno, Calaveras, San Bernardino, Madera, Santa Barbara, Alpine, Glenn, Amador, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Riverside, Placer, Shasta, Tehama, Humboldt, Los Angeles
Outside California: Alaska, western Canada, Colorado
Bloom period
Boechera retrofracta blooms Apr-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 retrofracta native to California?
Yes. Boechera retrofracta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera retrofracta bloom?
Boechera retrofracta blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Boechera retrofracta grow?
Boechera retrofracta occurs in Kern, San Diego, Lassen, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, El Dorado, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 900-3312 m.
What plant family does Boechera retrofracta belong to?
Boechera retrofracta is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera retrofracta grow in?
Boechera retrofracta grows in rock outcrops, sandy soil, in grassland, sagebrush steppe, open conifer forest.
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.