Lithophragma affine
Common woodland star
(c) Henrik Kibak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Henrik Kibak · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lithophragma affine (Common woodland star) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by white 3-lobed petals and sharp leaf teeth are key.
Common woodland star is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, central Sierra Nevada, Sutter Buttes, northern San Joaquin Valley, northern Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, southern Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in open, grassy slopes at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with three-lobed petals 5 to 13 millimeters long, arranged in clusters of 3 to 15 blooms. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with delicate, upright stems, it develops from a basal rosette of leaves. Its basal leaves are distinctively divided into 3 to 5 lobes with sharp-tipped teeth, creating an intricate and delicate foliage pattern. The plant's flowers feature a unique obconic hypanthium that is slightly inflated, with petals that are ovate-elliptic and precisely three-lobed at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; white 3-lobed petals and sharp leaf teeth are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, grassy slopes
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Monterey, Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Placer, Sonoma, Nevada, Alameda, El Dorado, Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Marin, Del Norte, Calaveras, Amador, Merced, Mariposa, Humboldt, Madera, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Tuolumne, Ventura, Plumas, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Trinity, Colusa, Butte, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama, Shasta, Sacramento, Fresno, Sierra, Yolo, Yuba
Outside California: southwestern Oregon, Baja California
Bloom period
Lithophragma affine blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Delphinium: Lithophragma has regular 5-petaled flowers; Delphinium has irregular spurred flowers with hood-like upper petals.; vs Bowlesia: Lithophragma has showy pink-white flowers in clusters; Bowlesia has tiny greenish flowers in tight umbels.; vs Geranium: Lithophragma petals are fringed/lobed and has 3 styles; Geranium petals are entire and has 5 styles.; vs Lysimachia: Lithophragma has 3 styles and deeply lobed leaves; Lysimachia has 1 style and simple leaves.; vs Horkelia: Lithophragma has 3 styles and palmately lobed leaves; Horkelia has many styles and pinnately compound leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lithophragma affine native to California?
Yes. Lithophragma affine is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lithophragma affine bloom?
Lithophragma affine blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Lithophragma affine grow?
Lithophragma affine occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Monterey, Solano, Napa and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Lithophragma affine belong to?
Lithophragma affine is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Lithophragma.
What habitat does Lithophragma affine grow in?
Lithophragma affine grows in Open, grassy slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.