Carried by 4 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Calochortus tolmiei is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Tolmie star-tulip and pussy ears. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it is a common member of the flora in several types of habitat. It is a perennial herb producing a slender stem, branched or unbranched, to 40 centimeters in maximum height. There is a basal leaf up to 40 centimeters long which does not wither at flowering, and generally a smaller leaf farther up the stem. The flower cluster is a solitary bloom or a cluster of bell-shaped flowers. Each has white to pale pink or purple petals, each up to 2.5 centimeters long, and three narrower sepals beneath. The petals are usually very hairy on their inner surfaces, and may be fringed with long hairs as well. The fruit is a winged capsule 2 or 3 centimeters long containing several dark brown seeds.
Perennial herb, Geophyte
1 ft Tall
White, Lavender, Red, Pink, Purple
Spring, Summer
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Low, Very Low
Never irrigate once established
1, 4, 5, 6, 7*, 15, 16, 17
Dry grassy slopes
Chaparral, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Forest, Yellow Pine Forest
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 1 likely
Orange Tortrix Moth
Argyrotaenia franciscana