Golden Stars Bloomeria
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- bloo-MER-ee-ah
- Description
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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:
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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)
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting