Streptanthus vernalis
Early jewelflower
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Streptanthus vernalis (Early jewelflower) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by distinctive white petals without darker veins.
Early jewelflower is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges in serpentine talus and gravel habitats at elevations of 600 to 900 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers 6.5 to 8 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with erect stems 2 to 20 centimeters tall that are simple or branched near the top, it has an elegant slender structure. Its leaves range from broadly obovate basal leaves that are coarsely toothed and fleshy to smaller sessile mid-stem leaves that are ovate to oblong with lobed bases. The fruit develops as a long, narrow pod 3 to 5 centimeters in length, holding 16 to 20 small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; distinctive white petals without darker veins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine talus, gravel
Elevation: +- 600-900 m.
Bloom period
Streptanthus vernalis blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 vernalis native to California?
Yes. Streptanthus vernalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Streptanthus vernalis bloom?
Streptanthus vernalis blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Streptanthus vernalis belong to?
Streptanthus vernalis is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Streptanthus.
Is Streptanthus vernalis rare or endangered?
Streptanthus vernalis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Streptanthus vernalis grow in?
Streptanthus vernalis grows in Serpentine talus, gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Streptanthus vimineus — Slender jewelflower
- Streptanthus albidus ssp. peramoenus — most beautiful jewelflower
- Streptanthus anomalus — Mount burdell jewelflower
- Streptanthus barbatus — Pacific jewelflower
- Streptanthus barbiger — Bearded jewelflower
- Streptanthus batrachopus — Tamalpais jewelflower
- Strigosella africana — African mustard
- Strigosella sp.
- Subularia aquatica subsp. americana — Water awlwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.