Draba aureola
Golden alpine draba, Golden Alpine Draba
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Draba aureola (Golden alpine draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by numerous cauline leaves and dense inflorescences.
Golden alpine draba is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the Lassen Volcanic National Park and eastern Klamath Ranges in high-elevation alpine meadows, scree, and open conifer forests at elevations of 2,250 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in dense clusters with 12 to 83 small blossoms, each petal 4 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with short stems 2.5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps with stiff, branching stems covered in distinctive multi-rayed hairs. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate to linear, 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, with ciliate edges and complex star-shaped hairs on both leaf surfaces. The fruit is an oblong silique 6 to 16 millimeters long, bearing 10 to 20 small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; key features are numerous cauline leaves and dense inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Scree, talus, generally volcanic substrates, alpine meadows, open conifer forest
Elevation: 2250-3200 m
California counties: Shasta, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, Trinity
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Draba aureola blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 aureola native to California?
Yes. Draba aureola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba aureola bloom?
Draba aureola blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Draba aureola grow?
Draba aureola occurs in Shasta, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, Trinity, at elevations of 2250-3200 m.
What plant family does Draba aureola belong to?
Draba aureola is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
Is Draba aureola rare or endangered?
Draba aureola carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
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.