Zeltnera venusta
California centaury
Southwestern United States (California) and northwestern Mexico
SunFull Sun
Overview
Zeltnera venusta is an annual in the gentian family that grows 4-20 inches (10-50 cm) tall on slender, branching, often reddish stems. The leaves are small, narrow, and paired along the stem. From late spring into summer it produces clusters of five-petaled, star-shaped flowers about 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) across, deep rose-pink with a white or pale ring at the throat and a small green or yellow eye. The flowers open in sunshine and close in dull weather. It grows on dry, open slopes, grassland, chaparral openings, and disturbed ground in California and adjacent areas, completing its life cycle in a single season. Plants vary from compact and few-flowered on poor soils to taller and many-branched where moisture is better. After flowering, plants set tiny seeds and die. The species is short-lived and present only during the warm season, leaving no structure afterward. It tolerates heat and dry soil but needs full sun to flower freely and self-sows where bare ground remains. The rose-pink flowers draw bees and other small pollinators.
Native Range
Native to California and nearby parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California, growing on dry slopes, grasslands, chaparral openings, and disturbed soils at low to moderate elevations.Suggested Uses
Used in native wildflower plantings, meadow mixes, and rock gardens, spaced 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) apart or sown in drifts. Suits dry, sunny, low-water areas and naturalized banks. Self-sows to persist in informal plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'8"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun in dry, well-drained soil, including poor, sandy, or rocky ground. The species needs little water once established and grows naturally on lean soils. Sow seed directly in fall or early spring, scattering it on the surface, as the seeds are tiny. Plants self-sow where soil stays open. Overwatering and rich soil produce lax growth and fewer flowers. No serious pests or diseases affect it.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this annual. Spent plants can be pulled once seed has dropped. Leaving some plants to shed seed maintains a stand from year to year.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
⚠️ Toxicity Warning
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
fall or early spring
Plant Spacing
8 inches