Lower montane through alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Spring, summer.
Ryman Creek Trail, June 16, 2005.

Although a slim, small plant, Wild Candytuft is noticeable for several reasons: It often grows in large patches providing a carpet of white flowers; it commonly grows with few other plants around it; and you see it all spring and summer as it follows you in flower from low canyons and foothills early in the spring to high mountains and tundra all summer.  Candytuft often begins flowering when only one inch tall and the flower stalk elongates and continues to produce flowers as the plant matures.

The genus name, "Noccaea", was given in 1802 by German botanist Conrad Moench (1744-1805) to honor the botanist Domenico Nocca.  Our species was first named Thlaspi montana by Linnaeus in 1753.  It has undergone more than a dozen name changes since then, including Thlaspi coloradense in 1901 by Rydberg from a specimen collected by Bessey near Pikes Peak.   Our species was given its present name in 1973 by Friedrich Karl Meyer.

Lower montane through alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Spring, summer.
Ryman Creek Trail, June 16, 2005.

Flowers are intensely white with green to purple sepals.

Lower montane through alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Spring, summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

The seed pod flattened shape, pointed tip, horizontal growth, and color are all key factors in identifying N. montana.

Lower montane through alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Spring, summer.
Cinnamon Pass, August 1, 2007.

Pink flowers are uncommon and striking.  These alpine plants are just three inches tall.

Lower montane through alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows. Spring, summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, June 25, 2008.