Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum
Elongate woolly-star
(c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum (Elongate woolly-star) is a native California perennial in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by tall stature and erect rigid stems.
Elongate woolly-star is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and western Mojave Desert on floodplains, hillsides, and ridge tops in grassland, scrub, chaparral, and woodland at elevations of 130 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale blue or lavender-blue flowers with bright blue lobes, creating delicate clusters in terminal and axillary inflorescences. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with generally erect stems that are white-woolly, sometimes becoming less hairy with age, it develops an upright structure with occasional short axillary shoots. Its leaves are 15 to 36 millimeters long, gray-green and densely woolly, with rigid texture and entire margins or up to 9 lateral lobes less than 5 millimeters long. The capsule fruit measures 3.8 to 5 millimeters, containing tan, oblong to angular seeds approximately 1.8 to 2.3 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; distinguished by tall stature and erect rigid stems
Habitat and range
Habitat: Floodplains, hillsides, flats, ridge tops, fire breaks, in grassland, scrub, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 130-2000 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Inyo, San Bernardino, San Diego, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey, Fresno
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum blooms May-Jul.
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. elongatum native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum bloom?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum grow?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum occurs in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Inyo, San Bernardino, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of 130-2000 m.
What plant family does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum belong to?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
What habitat does Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum grow in?
Eriastrum densifolium subsp. elongatum grows in Floodplains, hillsides, flats, ridge tops, fire breaks, in grassland, scrub, chaparral, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriastrum diffusum subsp. coachellae — Coachella woolly-star
- Eriastrum diffusum subsp. 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.