Boechera tiehmii
Tiehm's rockcress
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Boechera tiehmii (Tiehm's rockcress) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by ascending non-appressed fruits with 1-ranked seeds.
Tiehm's rockcress is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains on rock outcrops and gravelly soils at elevations of 3,000 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to lavender flowers 4 to 5 millimeters long with distinctive white petals. Growing with slender stems 8 to 30 centimeters tall emerging from a woody caudex, it develops a basal rosette with leaves 2 to 7 millimeters wide. Its leaves feature delicate, short-stalked hairs along the margins and are primarily entire or minutely toothed, with basal leaves having simple multi-rayed hairs. The plant produces ascending fruits 1.5 to 3.7 centimeters long, with 14 to 22 seeds arranged in a single row.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are ascending non-appressed fruits with 1-ranked seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: rock outcrops, gravelly soil
Elevation: 3000-3600 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Boechera tiehmii blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 tiehmii native to California?
Yes. Boechera tiehmii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Boechera tiehmii bloom?
Boechera tiehmii blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Boechera tiehmii belong to?
Boechera tiehmii is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Boechera.
Is Boechera tiehmii rare or endangered?
Boechera tiehmii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Boechera tiehmii grow in?
Boechera tiehmii grows in rock outcrops, gravelly soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.