Streptanthus breweri
Brewer's jewelflower
(c) Mary K. Hanson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Streptanthus breweri (Brewer's jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by strongly arched/recurved pods diagnostic.
Brewer's jewelflower is a California native annual found in southern Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in serpentine barrens within chaparral and woodland habitats at elevations of 250 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white or purple-veined white flowers with distinctive purple or white sepals, creating delicate blossoms up to 12 millimeters long. Growing 1.5 to 6.5 decimeters tall with glaucous stems that are simple or branched at the base, it has a slender, upright form. Its leaves vary distinctively, with basal leaves broadly ovate to obovate, mid-stem leaves 1.5 to 10 centimeters long that clasp the stem, and upper leaves becoming progressively smaller and narrowly lanceolate. The fruit develops as an erect to ascending pod 3 to 9 centimeters long, often strongly arched or recurved, containing 24 to 54 small oblong seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; strongly arched/recurved pods diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine barrens in chaparral or woodland
Elevation: 250-2100 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake, Trinity, Stanislaus, Glenn, Santa Clara, Napa, Colusa, Alameda, Sonoma, Fresno, San Benito, Shasta
Bloom period
Streptanthus breweri blooms May-Jul.
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 breweri native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus breweri bloom?
Streptanthus breweri blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Streptanthus breweri grow?
Streptanthus breweri occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake, Trinity, Stanislaus, Glenn, Santa Clara, Napa and other counties, at elevations of 250-2100 m.
What plant family does Streptanthus breweri belong to?
Streptanthus breweri is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
What habitat does Streptanthus breweri grow in?
Streptanthus breweri grows in Serpentine barrens in chaparral or woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus callistus — Mount hamilton jewelflower
- Streptanthus campestris — Southern jewelflower
- Streptanthus cordatus — Heartleaf jewelflower
- Streptanthus cordatus var. cordatus — Heartleaf jewelflower
- Streptanthus cordatus var. piutensis — Piute mountains jewelflower
- Streptanthus diversifolius — Varied-leaved jewelflower
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.