Brodiaea stellaris
Star brodiaea, Star Brodiaea
(c) Roger Raiche, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Brodiaea stellaris (Star brodiaea) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by short scape, long pedicels, winged filaments.
Star brodiaea is a California native perennial found in the central Coast Ranges and northern Coast Range openings in chaparral and coastal forest, typically on serpentine soils at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces violet flowers with transparent bell-shaped perianths 17.5 to 25 millimeters long, featuring ascending lobes with delicately recurved tips. Growing with a slender scape 2 to 6 centimeters tall, it emerges from underground corms with elegant, narrow stems. Its flowers display distinctive white staminodes with hooded, notched tips leaning toward the stamens, creating a complex and intricate floral structure. Each flower features unique white appendages extending from the filament tips, giving the bloom an intricate and delicate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; short scape, long pedicels, winged filaments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in chaparral, coastal forest, generally serpentine
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Trinity, Alameda, Placer, Yuba, Santa Clara, Shasta
Bloom period
Brodiaea stellaris blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Count the stamens: Brodiaea has 3 fertile stamens, Triteleia has 6.; vs Dipterostemon: Brodiaea has straight flower stalks; Dipterostemon stalks curve or bend.; vs Dichelostemma: Brodiaea stalks stay straight and upright; Dichelostemma stalks curve, twist, or twine.; vs Sisyrinchium: Brodiaea flowers are tubular; Sisyrinchium flowers are flat and star-shaped.; vs Scilla: Brodiaea has tubular flowers with visible stamens inside; Scilla has bell-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brodiaea stellaris native to California?
Yes. Brodiaea stellaris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Brodiaea stellaris bloom?
Brodiaea stellaris blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Brodiaea stellaris grow?
Brodiaea stellaris occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Trinity, Alameda, Placer, Yuba, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Brodiaea stellaris belong to?
Brodiaea stellaris is in the Themidaceae family, genus Brodiaea.
What habitat does Brodiaea stellaris grow in?
Brodiaea stellaris grows in Openings in chaparral, coastal forest, generally serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.