Eriastrum luteum
Yellow woolly-star, yellow-flowered eriastrum
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eriastrum luteum (Yellow woolly-star) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by unique golden yellow flowers with red-brown spots.
Yellow woolly-star is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in south-central coastal ranges of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties in grasslands, oak savannah, and woodland at elevations of 240 to 580 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white or cream flowers with golden yellow throats and lobes, often featuring distinctive red to brown spots at the base of flower lobes. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with erect stems that are woolly when young and becoming less hairy with age, the plant develops mostly branched stems with occasional axillary shoots. Its delicate leaves are 6 to 36 millimeters long, thread-like, and densely woolly, sometimes featuring 3 to 5 lobes at the base. The tiny capsule fruits contain one seed per chamber and measure 1.75 to 3.0 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; unique golden yellow flowers with red-brown spots
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas on gentle slopes, in grassland, oak savannah, woodland
Elevation: 240-580 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Eriastrum luteum blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 luteum native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum luteum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriastrum luteum bloom?
Eriastrum luteum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Eriastrum luteum grow?
Eriastrum luteum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, at elevations of 240-580 m.
What plant family does Eriastrum luteum belong to?
Eriastrum luteum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
Is Eriastrum luteum rare or endangered?
Eriastrum luteum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriastrum pluriflorum — Many-flowered woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. albifaux — White-throated woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. pluriflorum — Many-flowered woolly-star
- Eriastrum pluriflorum subsp. sherman-hoytae — Mrs. hoyt's woolly-star
- Eriastrum rosamondense — Rosamond woolly-star
- Eriastrum sapphirinum — Sapphire woolly-star
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.