Ongoing research by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has focused on reproductive biology and ecological requirements. Seedling cohorts show high mortality. Short-term drought, caused by high temperatures and lack of a maritime layer, has limited survival of seedlings and one-year old plants in some years since 1995. Most reproductive plants occur in close proximity to shrubs, suggesting that shade is important to survival during the first 2 years of growth. (Wilken 1996)

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has collected 26 seed accessions of Boechera hoffmannii from 5 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 356 maternal plants

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden has collected 3 seed accessions of Boechera hoffmannii from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 13 maternal plants

Historically reported from at least 3 of the Channel Islands off the southern California coast. Currently, the species is known from only 6 small populations on Santa Cruz Island and ~10 plants on Santa Rosa Island. The Anacapa Island pop is historic. Although 2 of the Santa Cruz sites are fairly inaccessible, the tiny populations are somewhat vulnerable to destruction by introduced feral pigs and are threatened by invasive non-native annuals such as fennel (Foeniculum vulagre). Non-native sheep, which drastically altered the island's ecosystems over the past 150 years, have now been removed from the area. All the northern Channel Islands have suffered profound loss and degradation of their soils and changes in their plant communities due to large numbers of non-native mammals introduced to the islands starting in the early 1800's.

As listed in the recovery plan for thirteen plant taxa from the northern channel islands (USFWS 2000): Feral pig rooting activities directly affecting the Hoffman's rock cress plants. Soil erosion following feral pig activity indirectly affecting the

Only 3-4 populations are known; 2-3 on Santa Cruz Island and one on Santa Rosa Island. The largest population, with an annual average of 30 reproductive individuals, occurs on Santa Cruz Island. The remaining populations are composed of 0-5 reproductive individuals in any one year. A third locality on Santa Cruz Island has remained inaccessible and unmonitored for at least 5 years.

Ongoing research by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has focused on reproductive biology and ecological requirements. Seedling cohorts show high mortality. Short-term drought, caused by high temperatures and lack of a maritime layer, has limited survival of seedlings and one-year old plants in some years since 1995. Most reproductive plants occur in close proximity to shrubs, suggesting that shade is important to survival during the first 2 years of growth. (Wilken 1996)

Santa Rosa Island is managed by the National Park Service. The population on Santa Rosa Island occurs on a narrow ledge near a road. Sites on Santa Cruz Island occur on lands owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The latter, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is developing a plan for feral pig removal and reduction of exotic weeds. However, no short-term measures have been taken to protect populations from pig rooting.

Protection of current populations on Santa Cruz Island. Genetic analyses of populations, including variation among annual cohorts. Collection of seeds from the population on Santa Rosa Island. Surveys for undiscovered populations and for sites suitable for reintroduction.

Studies of seed longevity under both short-term and long-term cold storage conditions.