Thelypodium flexuosum
Nodding thelypodium
(c) Gabriel Campbell-Martinez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Thelypodium flexuosum (Nodding thelypodium) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by unique perennial habit and wide petals.
Nodding thelypodium is a California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert region in canyons and slopes among shrubs at elevations of 900 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to white flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long with spoon-shaped petals that are delicate and occasionally oblanceolate. Growing with slender, generally wavy stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that are somewhat decumbent to erect, it develops a thick, woody caudex. Its basal leaves are entire and persistent, with blades 4 to 17 centimeters long, while mid-stem leaves are sessile and sagittate, clasping the stem. The plant produces elongated cylindric fruits 1 to 2.5 centimeters long with 12 to 30 small, plump seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; unique perennial habit and wide petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, slopes, among shrubs
Elevation: 900-1800 m
Outside California: Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Thelypodium flexuosum blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Stanleya: Flower stalks barely visible versus quarter-inch-plus dramatic stalks in Stanleya.; vs Caulanthus: Seed pods sit on distinct stalks above flower base versus sitting directly on base.; vs Brassica: Purple to white flowers with stalked pods versus yellow flowers in Brassica.; vs Boechera: Robust plants with relatively large flowers (6-16mm) versus delicate plants with smaller flowers.; vs Noccaea: Tall stems with purple-white flowers versus low rosette plants with tiny white flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thelypodium flexuosum native to California?
Yes. Thelypodium flexuosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thelypodium flexuosum bloom?
Thelypodium flexuosum blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Thelypodium flexuosum belong to?
Thelypodium flexuosum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Thelypodium.
What habitat does Thelypodium flexuosum grow in?
Thelypodium flexuosum grows in Canyons, slopes, among shrubs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Thelypodium howellii subsp. howellii — Howell's thelypodium
- Thelypodium integrifolium — Entire leaved thelypodium
- Thelypodium integrifolium subsp. affine
- Thelypodium integrifolium subsp. complanatum — Foxtail thelypodium
- Thelypodium laciniatum — Cutleaf thelypody
- Thelypodium milleflorum — Many-flowered thelypodium
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.