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Bloomeria

Phonetic Spelling
bloo-MER-ee-ah
Description

Golden Stars is a genus of small, flowering, bulbous, perennial herb with three species (crocea, clevelandii, and humilis), all of them native to California and the Baha Peninsular. Clevelandii is a rare plant usually only found in the San Diego area, humilis is a dwarf variety, and crocea is the more common variety.  In nature, the plants are typically found in dry flats, hillsides, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, valley grasslands, and oak woodlands, often in heavy soil. The genus is named after Hiram Green Bloomer, an early San Francisco botanist.

Golden Stars grow best in well-drained, moist, sandy or loamy soil and full to part sun, although the plant does not tolerate full shade. It does require consistent moisture during the growth season, but when the foliage dies down in the fall, it should be kept dry. Golden Stars produce corms, which can be harvested to propagate plants the following year. To grow from the corms, store in a cool, dry space until spring. Plant by covering the corm in 3 inches of soil. Golden Stars are not cold hardy and will be injured at temperatures below 25 degrees F (-4 degrees C).

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#perennial bulbs#corms#herbaceous bulb#flowering bulb
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#perennial bulbs#corms#herbaceous bulb#flowering bulb
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Bloomeria
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southwestern North America, California to North Western Mexico.
    Bulb Storage:
    Store corms dry at 35 degrees F (2 degrees C)
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Seeds are black, angular, wrinkled, and coated with crust. The seeds require three to four years to become a mature plant.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Tepals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Widely spreading flowers, golden yellow, striped brownish or green. Up to 30 flowers are borne on an erect umbrel rising from ground level.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    One to eight narrow basal leaves, linear-lanceolate, keeled, with entire margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting