Eriastrum abramsii
Abrams' woolly-star
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriastrum abramsii (Abrams' woolly-star) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by small size, woolly contrast, short corollas.
Abrams' woolly-star is a California native annual found in northern coastal and southern coastal regions, including San Francisco Bay and coastal ranges, in edges of chamise chaparral thickets on hillsides and in canyons at elevations of 650 to 900 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate pale blue to white flowers in small heads with 6 to 10 blooms open simultaneously, creating a soft, woolly appearance. Growing 6 to 15 centimeters tall with stems that are densely white-woolly and either single or branching from the base, it forms compact clusters in its native habitat. Its leaves are medium green with distinctive thread-like lobes, typically 8 to 30 millimeters long and covered in white wool, especially at the base. The plant produces small triangular capsules that are straw-colored, smooth, and shiny, each containing a single brown seed that becomes slimy when wet.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinguished by small size, woolly contrast, short corollas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Edges of chamise chaparral thickets on hillsides or in canyons
Elevation: 650-900 m
California counties: Lake, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Colusa, Stanislaus, San Benito, Contra Costa
Bloom period
Eriastrum abramsii blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Navarretia: Eriastrum has fluffy white woolly hairs; Navarretia has spine-tipped bracts and leaves without woolly hairs.; vs Gilia: Eriastrum flower clusters are densely woolly-hairy; Gilia flower clusters lack woolly hairs.; vs Loeseliastrum: Eriastrum has woolly tufted hairs and radial flowers; Loeseliastrum has simple hairs and bilateral flowers.; vs Langloisia: Eriastrum has woolly tufted white hairs; Langloisia has stiff branched bristly hairs.; vs Petalonyx: Eriastrum has opposite lobed leaves in Polemoniaceae; Petalonyx has alternate simple leaves in Loasaceae.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriastrum abramsii native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum abramsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum abramsii bloom?
Eriastrum abramsii blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Eriastrum abramsii grow?
Eriastrum abramsii occurs in Lake, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Colusa, Stanislaus, San Benito, Contra Costa, at elevations of 650-900 m.
What plant family does Eriastrum abramsii belong to?
Eriastrum abramsii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
What habitat does Eriastrum abramsii grow in?
Eriastrum abramsii grows in Edges of chamise chaparral thickets on hillsides or in canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriastrum brandegeeae — Brandegee's eriastrum
- Eriastrum calocyanum — Pretty blue woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium — Perennial woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum — Mountain woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. densifolium — Perennial woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum — Elongate woolly-star
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.