Draba asterophora
Lake tahoe draba
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Draba asterophora (Lake tahoe draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family.
Lake tahoe draba is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in alpine rock crevices, barrens, and talus at elevations of 2,600 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 5 to 7 millimeters long in small clusters of 5 to 20 blooms. Growing as a compact, loosely tufted herb with stems 3 to 11 centimeters tall, it forms delicate alpine cushions. Its basal leaves are broadly spoon-shaped, 4 to 14 millimeters long, with distinctive stalked, multi-rayed hairs. The fruit is a flat, lanceolate to ovate capsule 5 to 11 millimeters long, containing 14 to 18 small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated
Habitat and range
Habitat: rock crevices, alpine barrens, talus
Elevation: 2600-3300 m
California counties: El Dorado, Mono, Alpine
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Draba asterophora blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Physaria: Draba has flattened pods; Physaria has inflated balloon-like pods.; vs Lepidium: Draba has flattened pods with 10+ seeds; Lepidium has flat round pods with 2 seeds per chamber.; vs Boechera: Draba pods short and broad; Boechera pods long and narrow like pencils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Draba asterophora native to California?
Yes. Draba asterophora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba asterophora bloom?
Draba asterophora blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Draba asterophora grow?
Draba asterophora occurs in El Dorado, Mono, Alpine, at elevations of 2600-3300 m.
What plant family does Draba asterophora belong to?
Draba asterophora is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
Is Draba asterophora rare or endangered?
Draba asterophora 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.