Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum
Mountain woolly-star
(c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum (Mountain woolly-star) is a native California shrub in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by subshrub habit and multi-lobed green leaves distinctive.
Mountain woolly-star is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in forest openings, hillsides, and disturbed sites at elevations of 950 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to pale blue or lavender flowers with deep blue lobes, often with pale yellow bases, in clusters typically containing up to 20 blossoms. Growing 10 to 30 centimeters tall with generally branched stems that are erect or spreading, it forms a compact subshrub with short axillary branches. Its leaves are green, soft, and feature 7 to 13 delicate lobes measuring 15 to 35 millimeters long, giving the plant a light, feathery appearance. The fruit is a small capsule containing one to five seeds, each 2 to 2.9 millimeters long and light gray-brown in color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; subshrub habit and multi-lobed green leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Hillsides, knolls, openings in forest, floodplains above creeks, disturbed sites, often in forest or woodland, also chaparral, scrub, or grassland
Elevation: 950-2300 m
California counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo, Madera, Tulare, Monterey, Siskiyou, Orange, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum blooms May-Aug.
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 densifolium subsp. austromontanum native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum bloom?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum grow?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum occurs in Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 950-2300 m.
What plant family does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum belong to?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
What habitat does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum grow in?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. austromontanum grows in Hillsides, knolls, openings in forest, floodplains above creeks, disturbed sites, often in forest or woodland, also chaparral, scrub, or grassland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. densifolium — Perennial woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum — Elongate woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. mohavense — Mojave woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. patens — Spreading woolly-star
- Eriastrum densifolium subsp. sanctorum — Santa ana river woolly-star
- Eriastrum diffusum — Spreading woolly-star
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.