Lithophragma affine
san francisco woodland-star
Overview
Lithophragma affine is a slender perennial wildflower growing from a small cluster of underground bulblets, with wiry, glandular-hairy stems 8 to 20 inches (20 to 50 cm) tall. The mostly basal leaves are rounded and lobed, 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.3 to 4 cm) wide, on long stalks. In spring it bears an open raceme of 5 to 11 flowers, each with five white petals that are deeply cut into three to five narrow lobes, giving a star-like, fringed outline. The flowers measure about 0.5 to 0.75 inch (1.3 to 2 cm) across and may be tinged pink. It grows on shaded slopes, in oak woodland, chaparral, and grassland of coastal and interior California. After flowering it sets seed and dies back to the bulblets, staying dormant through the dry summer. It needs the seasonal moisture of winter and spring and will not tolerate summer irrigation in heavy soil. The plant is small and reads well in close, naturalistic plantings.
Native Range
Native to California, from the coast ranges and San Francisco Bay Area into the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows on shaded slopes in oak woodland, chaparral, and grassland.Suggested Uses
Used in native woodland gardens, shaded rock gardens, and grassland restoration in California. It suits naturalistic plantings under oaks where summers are dry. The spring flowers supply nectar for small native bees.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'8"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, generally March through May. An open cluster of 5 to 11 white, deeply fringed flowers opens along each stem. Bloom lasts about 3 to 4 weeks. The plant sets seed and goes dormant by early summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-6 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
Grow in part shade to dappled light in well-drained soil that stays moist through winter and spring. Lithophragma affine accepts loam, sandy, or rocky soils with a pH from 6.0 to 7.5. It draws on seasonal rainfall and goes dormant as the soil dries in summer, when it needs no water. Summer irrigation in heavy soil rots the bulblets. It is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. Mark its position, since the plant disappears entirely in summer.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Spent flower stems can be removed after seed sets, or left to self-sow. The foliage dies back on its own in summer and needs no cutting. Clear dead growth before the next winter leaves emerge.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons