Erucastrum gallicum
Common dogmustard
(c) Dmitriy Bochkov, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Erucastrum gallicum (Common dogmustard) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by European genus with limited California distribution; represents different evolutionary lineage within Brassicaceae.
Common dogmustard is a naturalized annual found in the southern San Francisco Bay region in disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces white or yellow flowers 4 to 8 millimeters long in open inflorescences. Growing with branched stems 30 to 65 centimeters tall covered in stiff, recurved hairs, it develops a highly adaptable growth habit. Its leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, with basal and lower cauline leaves reaching 3 to 28 centimeters long, having crenate, dentate, or lobed margins. The fruit is an elongated silique 1 to 4.5 centimeters long with a terminal segment 1.5 to 4 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: European genus with limited California distribution; represents different evolutionary lineage within Brassicaceae
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 2000 m
Outside California: North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Erucastrum gallicum blooms Mar-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Rorippa: Erucastrum has leafy bracts in flower cluster; Rorippa has naked flowering stems.; vs Sisymbrium: Erucastrum flower cluster has small leaves among flowers; Sisymbrium cluster completely naked.; vs Hirschfeldia: Erucastrum has leafy flower clusters; Hirschfeldia has naked clusters with appressed pods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erucastrum gallicum native to California?
No. Erucastrum gallicum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Erucastrum gallicum bloom?
Erucastrum gallicum blooms Mar-Sep.
What plant family does Erucastrum gallicum belong to?
Erucastrum gallicum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Erucastrum.
What habitat does Erucastrum gallicum grow in?
Erucastrum gallicum grows in Disturbed areas, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.