Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. divaricatum

Coastal soap plant

Family: Agavaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Coastal soap plant is a California native perennial found in southern North Coast and Central Coast bioregions on coastal bluffs and hills at elevations generally below 100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers in delicate clusters on relatively prostrate inflorescences less than 40 centimeters tall. Growing from a distinctive bulb with many coarse, fibrous outer layers, it develops spreading branches emerging from the base of the plant. Its leaves emerge from the bulb in long, slender arrangements typical of its lily family relatives. The bulb's unique fibrous coating has traditionally been used by indigenous peoples for soap-making, reflecting the plant's common name.

Habitat: Coastal bluffs, hills

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: generally < 100 m

Bioregions: s NCo, CCo.

California counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Monterey, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.