Draba densifolia
Dense leaved draba
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Draba densifolia (Dense leaved draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by cushion habit and linear leaves with prominent midvein.
Dense leaved draba is a native perennial herb found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, northern Sierra Nevada, and White and Inyo Mountains in alpine barrens and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,900 to 3,650 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small yellow flowers 2 to 5 millimeters long in compact clusters of 2 to 10 blooms. Growing as a tufted, cushion-forming plant with stems 1.5 to 10 centimeters tall, it forms dense, compact clumps in harsh alpine environments. Its basal leaves are linear to slightly oblanceolate, 2.5 to 9 millimeters long, with prominent midveins and ciliate edges, typically glabrous or with a few 2 to 4-rayed hairs. The fruit is a flat, ovate to lanceolate pod 3 to 6 millimeters long, bearing simple and short-stalked hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; key features are cushion habit and linear leaves with prominent midvein
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alpine barrens, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1900-3650 m
California counties: Alpine, Mono, Inyo, Tuolumne, Amador, Fresno, Modoc, Nevada, El Dorado, Placer, Mariposa
Outside California: northwestern United States, western Canada
Bloom period
Draba densifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
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 densifolia native to California?
Yes. Draba densifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba densifolia bloom?
Draba densifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Draba densifolia grow?
Draba densifolia occurs in Alpine, Mono, Inyo, Tuolumne, Amador, Fresno, Modoc, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1900-3650 m.
What plant family does Draba densifolia belong to?
Draba densifolia is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
What habitat does Draba densifolia grow in?
Draba densifolia grows in Alpine barrens, rocky slopes.
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.