Streptanthus insignis subsp. insignis

plumed jewelflower

Family: Brassicaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Plumed jewelflower is a California native annual found in the southern Coast Ranges interior in openings of chaparral, badlands, and rocky outcrops at elevations of 300 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces purple-white flowers with distinctive dark purple sterile flower clusters at the top of the inflorescence. Growing with delicate stems that support a slender, upright form, the plant reaches modest heights typical of annual wildflowers. Its flowers feature purple sepals and petals that transition from deep purple to white, creating a subtle color gradient across the blossoms. The fruits are notable for their sparse to dense bristly texture, adding a unique textural element to the plant's overall appearance.

Habitat: Openings in chaparral, badlands, rock outcrops, talus, graywacke, shale, often serpentine

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: 300-1100 m

Bioregions: SCoRI.

California counties: San Benito, Fresno, Merced, Monterey

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.