Lithophragma heterophyllum
Hill star
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Saxifragaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lithophragma heterophyllum (Hill star) is a native California herb in the Saxifragaceae family, recognized by distal bulblets and truncate hypanthium base distinguish it.
Hill star is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, southern North Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in shaded slopes at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers with three-lobed petals 5 to 12 millimeters long. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with an upright habit, it forms clusters of 3 to 12 flowers on slender stems. Its basal leaves are distinctively lobed, typically divided into 3 to 5 segments with rounded teeth, creating a soft, intricate leaf structure. The plant produces spiny seeds and features unique axillary bulblets on its distal bracts, adding to its botanical complexity.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distal bulblets and truncate hypanthium base distinguish it
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded slopes
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Napa, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, San Benito, Solano, Humboldt, Sonoma, Lake, Siskiyou, Marin, Butte, San Mateo, Monterey, Alameda, Mendocino, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Tulare, Contra Costa, Trinity, Santa Cruz, Madera, Kern, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Glenn, San Francisco, Shasta, Tuolumne, Sacramento, Plumas, Tehama, Sutter, El Dorado, Calaveras, Del Norte, Colusa, Riverside, Amador, Yuba, Yolo, Orange
Bloom period
Lithophragma heterophyllum blooms Feb-Jun.
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 heterophyllum native to California?
Yes. Lithophragma heterophyllum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lithophragma heterophyllum bloom?
Lithophragma heterophyllum blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Lithophragma heterophyllum grow?
Lithophragma heterophyllum occurs in Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Napa, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Lithophragma heterophyllum belong to?
Lithophragma heterophyllum is in the Saxifragaceae family, genus Lithophragma.
What habitat does Lithophragma heterophyllum grow in?
Lithophragma heterophyllum grows in Shaded slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lithophragma maximum — San clemente island woodland star
- Lithophragma parviflorum — Pink woodland star
- Lithophragma parviflorum var. parviflorum — Pink woodland star
- Lithophragma parviflorum var. trifoliatum — Prairie woodland star
- Lithophragma sp. — Woodland star
- Lithophragma tenellum — Slender woodland 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.