Swertia perennis
Star swertia, Star Swertia
(c) Zach Earl, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Gentianaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Swertia perennis (Star swertia) is a native California herb in the Gentianaceae family, recognized by Only Swertia species reaching California from its mainly northern and montane distribution.
Star swertia is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Sierra Nevada High Country in wet meadows and bogs at elevations of 2,300 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces blue-white to violet flowers with darker veins, arranged in open inflorescences with blossoms 7 to 13 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with generally a single stem and forming 1 to few rosettes, it has an erect and glabrous growth habit. Its distinctive leaves include basal leaves 3 to 16 centimeters long, spoon-shaped to obovate with obtuse tips, and narrow cauline leaves that are elliptic-oblanceolate with slightly pointed tips. Its delicate flowers feature lance-oblong corolla lobes with round nectary pits and a low ridge between stamens.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Swertia species reaching California from its mainly northern and montane distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs
Elevation: 2300-3200 m
California counties: Tulare, Fresno, Inyo, Alpine, Siskiyou, Shasta
Outside California: Oregon (Wallowa Mountains), also Alaska to Colorado, Eurasia
Bloom period
Swertia perennis blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
How to tell it apart
vs Frasera: Swertia has two nectar pits per petal; Frasera has one.; vs Sclerolinon: Swertia has fringed nectar pits; dwarf flax lacks nectar pits.; vs Frankenia: Swertia has free sepals; Frankenia sepals are fused into a tube.; vs Lysimachia: Swertia has two fringed nectar pits per petal; loosestrife lacks these.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swertia perennis native to California?
Yes. Swertia perennis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Swertia perennis bloom?
Swertia perennis blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Swertia perennis grow?
Swertia perennis occurs in Tulare, Fresno, Inyo, Alpine, Siskiyou, Shasta, at elevations of 2300-3200 m.
What plant family does Swertia perennis belong to?
Swertia perennis is in the Gentianaceae family, genus Swertia.
Is Swertia perennis rare or endangered?
Swertia perennis 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 · 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.