Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Caulanthus heterophyllus is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names San Diego wild cabbage and San Diego jewelflower. This annual wildflower is native to the coast ranges of southern California and Baja California. It is a member of the chaparral plant community and is common in areas recovering from wildfire. This plant has a smooth, erect stem which may be thin or quite stout. The stem produces long, pointed leaves at intervals, and toward the top of the stem produces flowers at similar intervals. The point of the stem is occupied by an inflorescence of one to several flowers. Each flower is showy, with a magenta to purple hollow urn-shaped body and a mouth surrounded by contrasting white petals which curl outward. The fruit is a silique several centimeters long containing winged seeds.

Plant type

Annual herb

Calscape icon
Color

White, Purple

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Weed (disturbed places)

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 9 likely

Confirmed Likely

Desert Orangetip

Anthocharis cethura

Sara Orangetip

Anthocharis sara

Large Marble

Euchloe ausonides

Pearly Marble

Euchloe hyantis