Carrichtera annua
Wards weed
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Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Carrichtera annua (Wards weed) is a non-native California annual in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by Mediterranean genus occasionally appearing as waif introduction in coastal California.
Wards weed is a naturalized annual found in the Central Coast and Southern California coastal regions in disturbed areas at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces cream to pale yellow flowers with dark purple or brown veins, spoon-shaped and 6.5 to 8 millimeters long. Growing with erect to decumbent stems 20 to 45 centimeters tall that are generally branched and covered in simple, reflexed hairs, it has a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are pinnately divided with 3 to 6 pairs of lateral lobes, featuring ultimate segments 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters wide and linear to oblong in shape. The fruit is a unique reflexed silicle with a lower segment that is widely ovoid and stiff-hairy, and an upper segment that is flattened with inward-curved margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Mediterranean genus occasionally appearing as waif introduction in coastal California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean, southwestern Asia
Bloom period
Carrichtera annua blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Rapistrum: Carrichtera has dark-veined pale petals and downward-curved pods, Rapistrum has plain yellow petals and upright pods.; vs Cakile: Carrichtera has dark-veined cream petals and grows inland, Cakile has plain white-lavender petals on beaches.; vs Armoracia: Carrichtera is a small annual with curved pods, Armoracia is a massive perennial reaching 5-12 feet.; vs Cochlearia: Carrichtera has dark-veined cream flowers and recurved pods, Cochlearia has plain white flowers and upright pods.; vs Lepidium: Carrichtera has dark-veined cream petals and long curved pods, Lepidium has white petals and small flat pods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carrichtera annua native to California?
No. Carrichtera annua is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Carrichtera annua bloom?
Carrichtera annua blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Carrichtera annua belong to?
Carrichtera annua is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Carrichtera.
Is Carrichtera annua invasive in California?
Carrichtera annua is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Carrichtera annua grow in?
Carrichtera annua grows in Disturbed areas.
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.