Draba praealta
Tall draba
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Draba praealta (Tall draba) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by tall stature, dentate rosette leaves, and white flowers.
Tall draba is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial herb found in the central Sierra Nevada eastern slope, including Mono and Inyo counties, in montane and subalpine moist meadows, streambanks, forest, and talus at elevations of 2,500 to 4,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers 2.8 to 3.5 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with branched stems 8 to 32 centimeters tall, covered in 2 to 5-rayed hairs throughout its structure. Its basal rosette leaves are oblanceolate, 1 to 3.5 centimeters long, with dentate edges and ciliate margins bearing stalked, multi-rayed hairs. The fruit develops as a flat, lanceolate pod 7 to 12 millimeters long, sparsely covered with simple and short-stalked hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are tall stature, dentate rosette leaves, and white flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane or subalpine moist meadows, streambanks, forest, talus, shale cliffs
Elevation: 2500-4100 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Tuolumne, Fresno, Alpine, Mariposa
Outside California: western United States, Canada, eastern Russia
Bloom period
Draba praealta blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 praealta native to California?
Yes. Draba praealta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Draba praealta bloom?
Draba praealta blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Draba praealta grow?
Draba praealta occurs in Inyo, Mono, Tuolumne, Fresno, Alpine, Mariposa, at elevations of 2500-4100 m.
What plant family does Draba praealta belong to?
Draba praealta is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Draba.
Is Draba praealta rare or endangered?
Draba praealta carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.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.