Skip to main content

Common Draba

Draba verna

Last reviewed: August 2026

Common Draba (Draba verna)
Photo: (c) crgillette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by crgillette

Toxicity unknown

Common Draba (Draba verna) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

2"–8" H × 2"–4" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Draba verna is a tiny spring annual that forms small rosettes of leaves with delicate white flowers. This diminutive wildflower completes its entire life cycle in just a few months, appearing in early spring and disappearing by summer.

In an HOA neighborhood

Common Draba takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Extremely small size makes it appear like a weed
  • Annual lifecycle means patches may look bare or inconsistent
  • Too informal for maintained landscaping standards

Wildlife value

The small white flowers provide early-season nectar for small bees and beetles when few other blooms are available.

Common questions

How much sun does Common Draba need?
Common Draba grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Common Draba bloom?
Common Draba blooms in March, April, and May.
What pollinators does Common Draba attract?
Common Draba draws bees and beetles.
Is Common Draba HOA-friendly?
Common Draba takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Common Draba? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz