Ipheion uniflorum

Spring star flower

Family: Alliaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Spring star flower is a naturalized perennial found in the Great Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and southwestern California regions in disturbed places at elevations generally below 300 meters. Flowering from February to March, this plant produces white to bluish flowers with perianth lobes 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems less than 30 centimeters tall, it has flat, bluish-green leaves that spread in delicate clusters. Its leaves are relatively short, less than 30 centimeters long, with a distinctive glaucous appearance that gives the plant a soft, grayish-green coloration. The flower stamens are uniquely attached at two different levels, creating an intricate botanical structure.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places

Bloom period: Feb-Mar

Elevation: generally < 300 m

Bioregions: GV, SnFrB, SW

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