garden information sheet for Bloomeria humilis

1. *Dwarf goldenstar – Bloomeria humilis (Bloo-MARE-ee-uh HUM-ill-us)
Family: Themidaceae (Brodaea Family); formerly included in Alliaceae (Onion Family)
Native to: Endemic to San Luis Obispo and Monerrey Counties, on the coastline near San Simeon;
grassland/chaparral edges, open mesas on ocean bluffs. Only two known populations; very rare.
Growth characteristics: perennial bulb mature height: < 6 inches mature width: < 6 inches
Small perennial wildflower from an underground corm. Several grass-like leaves emerge in spring
and die back, often before flowering is over. This is one of our truly short bulb-formers.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring – usually May-June but may be earlier. Flowers look like
those of the Common Goldenstars (Bloomeria cracea) - golden-yellow trumpets. Tepals (‘petals’)
are reflexed back and have a brown stripe on their outer surface. Wonderful at eye level.
Uses in the garden: Most often used as part of native prairie. Probably best in shallow pots or rock
gardens, where plants can be featured as accents. Great along paths or front of beds, with other
short bulbs. Charming rare native provides a touch of color when massed.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native bulbs & corms.
Attracts: Birds enjoy seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Best in heavy, clay soils but OK in others; any local pH.
Water Need good water until leaves yellow. Then let dry out – dry in summer.
Fertilizer Refresh part of soil yearly in containers; otherwise none needed.
Other No mulch or inorganic mulch is best.
Management: Store bulbs (even still in pot) in cool, dry place over dry season. Replant large
corms if pot becomes crowded.
Propagation: from seed: easy with fresh seed. Three years until flowering size. by offsets: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 18 1/3/17
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND