Boechera pulchra – “Beautiful Rockcress”

Also Known As: Prince’s Rockcress
Other Botanical Names: Arabis pulchra
Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Jun
Form: Perennial herb
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly or rocky soils
Leaves: Lanceolate; basal rosette below, alternate on stems
Translation: “Boechera” is named after Tyge Wittrock Böcher (Boecher) (1909-1983), an authority on Arctic vegetation and the flora of Greenland (therefore, pronounce the first syllable to rhyme with “spook”); “pulchra” is Latin for “beautiful,” which this plant certainly is.
Notes: Long, round skinny seedpods as pictured are typical of the Mustard Family. This is a “variable species,” meaning that characteristics such as flower color, leaf shape, and size differ between individuals.
Animal Associations: Nectar source and larval food plant for many butterflies, including the Gray Marble, Southwestern Orangetip, Desert Marble and Spring White.