Caulanthus californicus
California jewelflower
(c) Zack Abbey, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Caulanthus californicus (California jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by broad flattened fruits and terminal sterile flower clusters.
California jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley and western Transverse Ranges in non-alkaline grassland flats and slopes at elevations of 70 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces nearly white flowers with purple veins, 5.5 to 12 millimeters long with wavy margins. Growing 0.9 to 5.5 decimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems that are generally branched in the upper portions, it has a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves form a basal rosette 1 to 11 centimeters long, oblanceolate and coarsely dentate, with cauline leaves that are sessile, ovate to nearly round, and ranging from entire to coarsely dentate. The fruit is an elongated silique 1.7 to 5 centimeters long, ascending to reflexed, with 46 to 100 small spheric seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; broad flattened fruits and terminal sterile flower clusters are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Flats, slopes, generally in non-alkaline grassland
Elevation: 70-1000 m
California counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Ventura
Bloom period
Caulanthus californicus blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
How to tell it apart
vs Streptanthus: Seed pods are cylindrical and round versus flattened blade-like pods in Streptanthus.; vs Sisymbrium: Petals are distinctively crinkled and papery versus smooth petals in Sisymbrium.; vs Hirschfeldia: Young pods reflex sharply downward versus pointing upward or outward.; vs Boechera: Pods reflex downward and contain wingless seeds versus erect pods with winged seeds.; vs Brassica: Young seed pods bend sharply downward versus pointing upward in Brassica.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caulanthus californicus native to California?
Yes. Caulanthus californicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Caulanthus californicus bloom?
Caulanthus californicus blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Caulanthus californicus grow?
Caulanthus californicus occurs in Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Ventura, at elevations of 70-1000 m.
What plant family does Caulanthus californicus belong to?
Caulanthus californicus is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Caulanthus.
Is Caulanthus californicus rare or endangered?
Caulanthus californicus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · 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.