Eriastrum pluriflorum
Many-flowered woolly-star
(c) velodrome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriastrum pluriflorum (Many-flowered woolly-star) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by Annual with many-flowered woolly heads (up to ~50 flowers); interior SNF-SnJV-SCoR; not woody like E. densifolium.
Many-flowered woolly-star is a California native annual found in desert and foothill regions in open sandy or rocky habitats at elevations of 300 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this delicate plant produces white to blue or purple flowers with intricate color variations, ranging from pale cream throats to lavender or blue-purple lobes often marked with darker veins. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with erect stems that are initially woolly and becoming more sparse with age, the plant forms compact clusters up to 50 centimeters wide. Its leaves are thread-like to linear, measuring 6 to 40 millimeters long, and can be entire or occasionally divided into 2 to 13 narrow segments. The fruit is a small capsule 2 to 5 millimeters long, containing angular tan or gray-brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Annual with many-flowered woolly heads (up to ~50 flowers); interior SNF-SnJV-SCoR; not woody like E. densifolium.
Habitat and range
California counties: Riverside, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, Alameda, Madera, San Benito, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, Mariposa, Contra Costa
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 pluriflorum native to California?
Yes. Eriastrum pluriflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eriastrum pluriflorum grow?
Eriastrum pluriflorum occurs in Riverside, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and other counties.
What plant family does Eriastrum pluriflorum belong to?
Eriastrum pluriflorum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Eriastrum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriastrum sapphirinum subsp. ambiguum — Short-bract 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.