Cardamine californica
Milk maids, tooth wort, Tooth Wort
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Cardamine californica (Milk maids) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by tuber-like rhizome and large early flowers diagnostic.
Milk maids is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the California Floristic Province in generally shaded sites, canyons, and woodland at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces delicate white to pale rose flowers approximately 8 to 13 millimeters long. Growing with erect, simple stems 27 to 60 centimeters tall, it emerges from a spheric to ovoid rhizome deeply buried in the soil. Its leaves feature 3 to 5 leaflets, with the terminal leaflet 2.5 to 7.5 centimeters long, widely ovate to round, and having margins that range from entire to gently dentate. The plant produces slender fruits 2.2 to 5 centimeters long with 12 to 22 small oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; tuber-like rhizome and large early flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally shaded sites, canyons, woodland
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Butte, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Tulare, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Lake, Monterey, Riverside, El Dorado, Sonoma, Solano, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Marin, Santa Clara, Napa, San Mateo, San Benito, Alameda, San Francisco, Del Norte, Sierra, Placer, Siskiyou, Nevada, Calaveras, Glenn, Stanislaus, Trinity, Mariposa, Shasta, Amador, Fresno, Merced, Tuolumne, Yolo
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Cardamine californica blooms Jan-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Raphanus: Cardamine has narrow pencil-like pods with many seeds; Raphanus has thick beaked pods that break into segments.; vs Nasturtium: Cardamine grows on moist land in shade; Nasturtium grows in or at the edge of water in sun.; vs Viola: Cardamine has four petals and thin seed pods; Viola has five petals and a capsule that splits into three parts.; vs Vancouveria: Cardamine has four-petaled flowers and seed pods; Vancouveria has six-petaled flowers and follicles.; vs Lepidium: Cardamine has narrow pods with many seeds; Lepidium has flattened round pods with only 2 seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cardamine californica native to California?
Yes. Cardamine californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cardamine californica bloom?
Cardamine californica blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Cardamine californica grow?
Cardamine californica occurs in Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Butte, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Cardamine californica belong to?
Cardamine californica is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Cardamine.
Is Cardamine californica rare or endangered?
Cardamine californica carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.