Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor
Red hills jewelflower
Photo: parent species Streptanthus polygaloides · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor (Red hills jewelflower) is a native California annual in the Brassicaceae family.
Red hills jewelflower is a California native annual found in the Sierra Nevada foothills in open areas of serpentine chaparral at elevations of 200 to 500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces distinctive yellow and red-purple flowers with intriguing petal and sepal coloration. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges delicately in serpentine landscapes. Its leaves are typically lance-shaped, arranged alternately along the stem, with varying sizes that complement its elegant floral structure. The flower's unique design features yellow adaxial sepals contrasting with red-purple markings on lateral and abaxial sepals, creating a striking botanical display.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas in serpentine chaparral
Elevation: 200-500 m
Bloom period
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor blooms May-Jun.
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 polygaloides subsp. bicolor native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor bloom?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor belong to?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
What habitat does Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor grow in?
Streptanthus polygaloides subsp. bicolor grows in Open areas in serpentine chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-15
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.