Lepidium montanum
Mountain pepper grass
(c) John Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Brew · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Lepidium montanum (Mountain pepper grass) is a native California subshrub in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by perennial habit at higher elevations, pinnately divided leaves.
Mountain pepper grass is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin, eastern California Ranges, and Mojave Desert in sandy, gravelly soils of pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 800 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small white flowers in elongated clusters with spoon-shaped petals 2.2 to 3.7 millimeters long. Growing 0.4 to 5 meters tall with many branches toward the upper stems, it forms occasional clumps with a somewhat woody base. Its leaves are distinctively lobed, ranging from 1.5 to 4 centimeters long, with pinnately divided segments that are either entire or lightly toothed. The fruit is a small, flattened ovate pod 2 to 4.3 millimeters long with a winged tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; key features are perennial habit at higher elevations, pinnately divided leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly, generally saline soils, pinyon/juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub, rocky hillsides, roadsides
Elevation: 800-2700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou, Sierra, Modoc, Nevada
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Arizona, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Lepidium montanum blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Capsella: Small round-to-oval pods versus distinctive triangular heart-shaped pods.; vs Cotula: Mustard with seed pods and 4 petals versus composite with disk flowers only.; vs Soliva: Mustard with flattened seed pods versus composite with spiny achenes.; vs Thysanocarpus: Fruits stand upright or spread versus hanging downward in Thysanocarpus.; vs Lobularia: Flattened oval pods with 1-2 seeds versus inflated round pods with 2 seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lepidium montanum native to California?
Yes. Lepidium montanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lepidium montanum bloom?
Lepidium montanum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Lepidium montanum grow?
Lepidium montanum occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou, Sierra, Modoc, Nevada, at elevations of 800-2700 m.
What plant family does Lepidium montanum belong to?
Lepidium montanum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium montanum grow in?
Lepidium montanum grows in Sandy, gravelly, generally saline soils, pinyon/juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub, rocky hillsides, roadsides.
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.