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Overview
Zeltnera is a genus of about 25 small annual and biennial herbs in the gentian family, segregated from Centaurium and centered on western North America, with several species in Mexico and Central America. Plants are slender and erect, usually 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) tall, branching in the upper half into open clusters of star-shaped flowers. Each bloom has five lobes spreading from a narrow tube and is most often pink, though some species are white or pale yellow, with a yellow throat. The opposite leaves are small, smooth-edged, and sometimes form a basal rosette in the first season. Flowering runs from spring into summer, with individual flowers opening in sun and lasting only a short time. As annuals or biennials of open, often seasonally moist ground, these are short-lived plants that complete their cycle and set seed within a year or two, then disappear until the next generation germinates. Their small size and brief life span make them ephemeral additions rather than long-standing garden features, and they are grown mainly in wildflower meadows and native plantings within their range.
Native Range
Zeltnera is native to the Americas, with the greatest number of species in California and the western United States, extending into Mexico and Central America. The plants grow in open grasslands, meadows, vernally moist flats, and disturbed sites, often where winter rains give way to dry summers.Suggested Uses
Zeltnera is grown in wildflower meadows, native and pollinator plantings, and seasonally moist swales within its native range. The small pink flowers add scattered color among grasses in late spring and summer. Short life span and small stature suit it to naturalistic plantings rather than formal beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'8"
Width/Spread2" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs from spring into summer, broadly April to August depending on rainfall and elevation. The star-shaped flowers open in bright sun and close or drop within a few days, with a plant flowering over roughly four to eight weeks. Seed is set quickly after bloom, and plants then die back.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink, sometimes white or yellowFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Zeltnera grows in full sun to light shade on average to moist soils with a pH from about 6.0 to 8.0, including loam, sand, and clay. As annuals and biennials, plants are raised from seed sown in place, since they resent transplanting once their roots develop. Seasonal moisture in spring suits them, while waterlogged or heavily fertilized soil reduces flowering. They need little care beyond thinning crowded seedlings. Because the plants are short-lived, leaving some flowers to set seed maintains a stand from year to year.Pruning
Pruning is not needed for these small annuals; spent stems can be sheared after flowering if self-seeding is to be limited. Leaving some seed heads in place lets the plants reseed. Whole plants are pulled once they have died back.Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Fall to early spring
Plant Spacing
6 inches