Boechera subpinnatifida
Klamath rockcress
(c) Rob Santry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Boechera subpinnatifida (Klamath rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by pendent recurved fruits and purple petals.
Klamath rockcress is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and North Coast Ranges on igneous and metamorphic rock outcrops at elevations of 700 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces purple to lavender flowers 9 to 14 millimeters long with petals 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops a woody caudex with crowded, persistent leaf bases and stems covered in short, branched hairs. Its basal leaves are 1 to 5 millimeters wide, often dentate or pinnately lobed, with short-stalked hairs covering the surface. The fruit is a pendulous silique 3.5 to 8 centimeters long, densely hairy throughout, containing 24 to 42 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are pendent recurved fruits and purple petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Igneous, metamorphic rock outcrops, gravelly soil
Elevation: 700-2400 m
California counties: Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Glenn, Modoc, Nevada, Tehama, Lake, Humboldt, Del Norte, Shasta
Outside California: to Oregon, Utah
Bloom period
Boechera subpinnatifida blooms Mar-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 subpinnatifida native to California?
Yes. Boechera subpinnatifida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera subpinnatifida bloom?
Boechera subpinnatifida blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Boechera subpinnatifida grow?
Boechera subpinnatifida occurs in Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Glenn, Modoc, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 700-2400 m.
What plant family does Boechera subpinnatifida belong to?
Boechera subpinnatifida is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
What habitat does Boechera subpinnatifida grow in?
Boechera subpinnatifida grows in Igneous, metamorphic rock outcrops, gravelly soil.
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.