Streptanthus barbatus
Pacific jewelflower
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Streptanthus barbatus (Pacific jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and bell-shaped flowers.
Pacific jewelflower is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, including Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties, in serpentine and rocky Jeffrey-pine forest at elevations of 800 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces purple flowers with darker purple veins, approximately 5 to 9 millimeters long and delicately crinkled. Growing with simple or few-branched stems 15 to 80 centimeters tall, it has a woody caudex and remains generally glabrous. Its basal leaves are obovate and short-petioled, while mid-cauline leaves are round to broadly ovate, 0.7 to 3.5 centimeters long, with bases that clasp the stem and stiff hairs at tooth tips. The fruit is a recurved pod 2 to 7 centimeters long, bearing 16 to 30 seeds with narrow wings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; perennial habit and bell-shaped flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine, rocky, open Jeffrey-pine forest
Elevation: 800-2200 m
California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta
Bloom period
Streptanthus barbatus blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Caulanthus: Seed pods are flattened like sword blades versus cylindrical tubes in Caulanthus.; vs Boechera: Robust plants often over 2.5 feet with large flowers (sepals 4-8mm) versus more delicate habit.; vs Claytonia: Mustard family with 4 petals and 6 stamens versus Claytonia with 5 petals.; vs Silene: Mustard family with seed pods versus Silene with inflated capsules and opposite leaves.; vs Lonicera: Herbaceous mustard with alternate leaves versus woody vine with opposite leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Streptanthus barbatus native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus barbatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus barbatus bloom?
Streptanthus barbatus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Streptanthus barbatus grow?
Streptanthus barbatus occurs in Trinity, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, at elevations of 800-2200 m.
What plant family does Streptanthus barbatus belong to?
Streptanthus barbatus is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
What habitat does Streptanthus barbatus grow in?
Streptanthus barbatus grows in Serpentine, rocky, open Jeffrey-pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus barbiger — Bearded jewelflower
- Streptanthus batrachopus — Tamalpais jewelflower
- Streptanthus bernardinus — Laguna mountains jewelflower
- Streptanthus brachiatus — Socrates mine jewelflower
- Streptanthus brachiatus ssp. brachiatus — Socrates Mine jewel-flower
- Streptanthus brachiatus ssp. hoffmanii — Freed's jewel-flower
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.