Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where endemic to Chelan, Kittitas and Yakima counties.
Habitat: Open rocky areas, scree and talus slopes, middle to high elevations in the mountains.
Flowers: April-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bees, flies
Perennial herbs from a thick, branched crown, the numerous, erect to decumbent stems 5-15 cm. long; herbage silvery with tiny, appressed stellate hairs.
Basal leaves numerous, 4-8 cm. long, the blade entire, oblanceolate or obovate, tapered to a slender petiole at least as long; cauline leaves alternate, reduced, oblanceolate.
Inflorescence of short, crowded, bractless racemes; pedicles ascending, 10-15 mm. long; sepals 4, the outer pair saccate at the base; petals 4, yellow, spatulate, 8-14 mm. long; stamens 6; style 5-7 mm. long.
Silicles strongly inflated, developed in pairs, 14-18 mm. long and broad, shallowly cordate at the base, the apical sinus open, 2-3 mm. deep.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Physaria alpestris in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Physaria alpestris checklist entry
OregonFlora: Physaria alpestris information
E-Flora BC: Physaria alpestris atlas page
CalPhotos: Physaria alpestris photos