Draba cruciata
Mineral king draba
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Draba cruciata (Mineral king draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by glabrous leaves and long glabrous pedicels.
Mineral king draba is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mineral King in Tulare County on gravelly subalpine slopes at elevations of 2,500 to 3,050 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small yellow flowers with petals 4 to 6 millimeters long in compact clusters. Growing as a tufted herb with unbranched stems 5 to 14 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters with distinctive hairy stems near the base. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate to ovate, 6 to 11 millimeters long, with entire or minutely toothed edges and glabrous surfaces. The plant produces narrowly lanceolate fruits 6 to 12 millimeters long, which are flat and slightly hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are glabrous leaves and long glabrous pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly slopes, subalpine areas
Elevation: 2500-3050 m
California counties: Tulare, Inyo, Fresno
Bloom period
Draba cruciata 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 cruciata native to California?
Yes. Draba cruciata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba cruciata bloom?
Draba cruciata blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Draba cruciata grow?
Draba cruciata occurs in Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, at elevations of 2500-3050 m.
What plant family does Draba cruciata belong to?
Draba cruciata is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
Is Draba cruciata rare or endangered?
Draba cruciata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
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.