Eriastrum diffusum subsp. diffusum

Spreading woolly-star

Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: annual · Native

Spreading woolly-star is a native annual found in desert scrub, arid woodland, and grassland habitats across washes, floodplains, and hillsides at elevations of 100 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this delicate plant produces white flowers with yellow or yellow-spotted throats, blue to cream-colored corolla lobes, and intricate blue to white blossoms. Growing with erect to spreading stems 1 to 25 centimeters tall, the plant develops woolly stems that become less hairy with age. Its leaves are woolly, measuring 9 to 26 millimeters long, with zero to five subtle lobes that create a soft, textured appearance. The small fruit capsules are approximately 2.7 to 3 millimeters long, containing tan to light brown angular seeds.

Habitat: Washes, floodplains, flats, hillsides, alluvial fans, disturbed areas, in desert scrub, arid woodland, grassland

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 100-1800 m

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