Descurainia pinnata subsp. brachycarpa

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

Tansy mustard is a California native annual found in sagebrush scrub, pinyon and juniper woodland, and disturbed areas across California at elevations of 100 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces yellow to lavender flowers small and delicate, approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with glandular green stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it spreads with spreading branches at angles between 20 to 60 degrees. Its finely divided pinnate leaves are soft green and lacy, with multiple small leaflets creating a delicate, feathery appearance. The plant has a distinctive glandular character, with hairy stems and inflorescences that give it a slightly fuzzy, pale green texture.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, sandy fields, dry washes, streambanks, dry slopes, cliffs

Bloom period: Mar-Jul

Elevation: 100-2200 m

Bioregions: CA

California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Alpine, Contra Costa, Lassen, Siskiyou, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Tehama, Tulare, Mono, Orange, Ventura, Modoc, Inyo, Nevada, Sierra, Merced, Monterey, Plumas, Mariposa, Imperial, Lake, Tuolumne, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.