Calochortus tolmiei
Pussy ears, Pussy Ears
(c) Arvel Hernandez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Calochortus tolmiei (Pussy ears) is a native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by distinctive small densely hairy cat ear-shaped petals.
Pussy ears is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, northern Sacramento Valley, northern Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in dry, grassy slopes and woodlands at elevations of 50 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to pink or purple flowers 12 to 25 millimeters long with densely hairy, ciliate petals in a loose umbel-like arrangement. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, which can be simple or branched, it emerges from persistent basal leaves. Its basal leaves reach 10 to 40 centimeters long, with a single cauline leaf typically present, and the flowers feature distinctive bell-shaped perianths with lance-oblong sepals. The nodding fruit is elliptic-oblong, 20 to 30 millimeters long, with irregular dark brown seeds that have a distinctive net-like texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; distinctive small densely hairy cat ear-shaped petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Dry, grassy slopes, woodland, often in poor soil
Elevation: 50-2000 m
California counties: Mendocino, Butte, San Mateo, Sonoma, Humboldt, Lake, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Del Norte, Marin, Yolo, Siskiyou, Glenn, Santa Clara, Sierra, Napa, Santa Cruz, Plumas, Colusa
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Calochortus tolmiei blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Clarkia: Calochortus has 6 stamens and grass-like leaves; Clarkia has 8 stamens and broad stem leaves.; vs Fritillaria: Calochortus flowers open upward/outward in cups; Fritillaria flowers hang downward like bells.; vs Thismia: Calochortus has green leaves and open flowers; Thismia is leafless with closed tubular flowers.; vs Eschscholzia: Calochortus has 6 petals and parallel-veined leaves; Eschscholzia has 4 petals and divided leaves.; vs Sidalcea: Calochortus has 6 petals and grass-like leaves; Sidalcea has 5 petals and rounded lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calochortus tolmiei native to California?
Yes. Calochortus tolmiei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calochortus tolmiei bloom?
Calochortus tolmiei blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Calochortus tolmiei grow?
Calochortus tolmiei occurs in Mendocino, Butte, San Mateo, Sonoma, Humboldt, Lake, Tehama, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 50-2000 m.
What plant family does Calochortus tolmiei belong to?
Calochortus tolmiei is in the Liliaceae family, genus Calochortus.
What habitat does Calochortus tolmiei grow in?
Calochortus tolmiei grows in Common. Dry, grassy slopes, woodland, often in poor soil.
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.