Bloomeria clevelandii
San diego goldenstar, San Diego Goldenstar
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Bloomeria clevelandii (San diego goldenstar) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat, elevation, and flower characteristics.
San diego goldenstar is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern coastal Southern California in southwestern San Diego County's coastal scrub and mesa grassland habitats at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with green midveins on slender stems. Growing with a tall scape 15 to 70 centimeters high, it develops distinctive linear leaves 2 to 8 in number, each 6 to 15 centimeters long and extremely narrow at 1 to 3 millimeters wide. Its flower perianth lobes spread abruptly at the base, measuring 5 to 10 millimeters long with delicate yellow petals. The flower's anthers and filaments create an elegant structural arrangement, with filaments 3 to 5 millimeters long leaning away from the central style.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 2 species; distinguished by coastal habitat, elevation, and flower characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, mesa grassland
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Bloomeria clevelandii blooms May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Bloomeria has golden spreading stars; Triteleia has tubular flowers in purple, blue, white, or pale yellow.; vs Primula: Bloomeria grows from bulbs with grass-like leaves; Primula has basal rosettes of broad leaves.; vs Muilla: Bloomeria flowers are golden yellow; Muilla flowers are white.; vs Androstephium: Bloomeria has spreading star petals; Androstephium has tubular flowers.; vs Brodiaea: Bloomeria has golden spreading stars; Brodiaea has purple tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bloomeria clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Bloomeria clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bloomeria clevelandii bloom?
Bloomeria clevelandii blooms May.
What plant family does Bloomeria clevelandii belong to?
Bloomeria clevelandii is in the Themidaceae family, genus Bloomeria.
Is Bloomeria clevelandii rare or endangered?
Bloomeria clevelandii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S3.
What habitat does Bloomeria clevelandii grow in?
Bloomeria clevelandii grows in Coastal scrub, mesa grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.