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Bloomeria spp.
golden stars
Overview
Bloomeria spp. is a small genus of cormous perennials in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to California and northern Baja California. The plants grow from a corm and produce one or two long, narrow basal leaves that wither by flowering time. In late spring a leafless stem 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall carries an open, rounded umbel of many small star-shaped flowers, each golden-yellow with a darker midvein and held on a slender stalk. The most widespread species, Bloomeria crocea, known as golden stars or common goldenstar, grows on grassy slopes, open woodland, and chaparral edges. Bloomeria spp. is summer-dormant, dying back to the corm after seed set and resting through the dry season, then resprouting with autumn and winter rains. Plants need full sun, sharp drainage, and a dry summer rest, which suits Mediterranean-climate and bulb gardens but makes them short-lived where summers are wet. Corms increase slowly, and plants also self-seed in open ground.
Native Range
Native to California and northern Baja California, Mexico, on dry grassy slopes, open oak woodland, and chaparral margins below about 5,500 feet (1,700 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, gravel gardens, and bulb collections in Mediterranean and dry-summer climates, and in containers kept dry over summer. The flowers naturalise in open grassy areas where summers are dry.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Star-shaped golden-yellow flowers open in late spring, roughly April to June, after the leaves have begun to wither. The open umbels last for several weeks. Plants then set seed and die back to the corm for the summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Bloomeria spp. grows in full sun on light, sharply drained soils and needs a dry rest while dormant in summer. Plants resprout with autumn and winter rains and grow through the cool, moist season. Wet summers cause the corms to rot, so plants are short-lived in summer-rainfall climates unless lifted or kept dry. Propagation is by seed or by separating offset corms when dormant. Little feeding is needed on lean soils.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Withered leaves and spent flower stems are removed once dry. The corms are left undisturbed through summer dormancy.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons