Stellaria littoralis
Beach starwort
(c) Roger Rittmaster, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Stellaria littoralis (Beach starwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by dense long wavy hairs covering most of plant.
Beach starwort is a California native perennial found in the North Coast and Central Coast bioregions along coastal marshes and bluffs at elevations below 40 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces white flowers with petals about as long as its lanceolate, sharply acute sepals. Growing as a sprawling herb 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it features distinctive long, wavy hairs covering most of its stems and branches. Its leaves are approximately ovate, 10 to 45 millimeters long, with shiny margins that are flat to wavy and densely fringed with fine hairs. The plant emerges from a white rhizome and creates delicate, sparse clusters of flowers with leaf-like bracts.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key feature is dense long wavy hairs covering most of plant
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal +- marshes, bluffs
Elevation: < 40 m
California counties: San Francisco, Marin, Monterey, Sonoma, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Placer
Bloom period
Stellaria littoralis blooms Spring.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Cerastium: Stellaria has smooth to lightly hairy leaves; Cerastium is densely hairy and grayish-fuzzy throughout.; vs Parietaria: Stellaria has white flowers with visible petals; Parietaria has tiny greenish flowers hidden in leaf clusters.; vs Euphorbia: Stellaria has separate white flowers; Euphorbia has cup-like cyathia with milky sap when stems break.; vs Claytonia: Stellaria has deeply split petals creating star shape; Claytonia has unlobed rounded petals.; vs Polycarpon: Stellaria has stalkless pointed leaves; Polycarpon has spoon-shaped leaves with obvious stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stellaria littoralis native to California?
Yes. Stellaria littoralis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stellaria littoralis bloom?
Stellaria littoralis blooms Spring.
Where in California does Stellaria littoralis grow?
Stellaria littoralis occurs in San Francisco, Marin, Monterey, Sonoma, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Placer, at elevations of < 40 m.
What plant family does Stellaria littoralis belong to?
Stellaria littoralis is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Stellaria.
Is Stellaria littoralis rare or endangered?
Stellaria littoralis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.