Draba corrugata
Southern California draba
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Draba corrugata (Southern California draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by linear petals and densely overlapping leaves.
Southern California draba is a California native perennial found in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains in rocky slopes and pine woodland at elevations of 2,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces yellow flowers 2 to 3.5 millimeters long with linear petals. Growing with small stems 5 to 13 centimeters tall, covered in a mix of simple and multi-rayed hairs, it forms dense clusters. Its basal leaves are densely overlapping, 1 to 2.2 centimeters long, narrowly oblanceolate with ciliate margins and a mix of simple and two- to four-rayed hairs. The fruit is an elliptic, slightly twisted pod 5 to 20 millimeters long with 16 to 28 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are linear petals and densely overlapping leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, talus, pine woodland
Elevation: 2000-3500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Draba corrugata blooms Jun-Jul.
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 corrugata native to California?
Yes. Draba corrugata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba corrugata bloom?
Draba corrugata blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Draba corrugata grow?
Draba corrugata occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, at elevations of 2000-3500 m.
What plant family does Draba corrugata belong to?
Draba corrugata is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
What habitat does Draba corrugata grow in?
Draba corrugata grows in Rocky slopes, talus, pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.