Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Eriastrum sapphirinum is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name sapphire woollystar. This wildflower is endemic to California where it is found in many habitats throughout the state. It is an annual reaching anywhere from 5 to 40 centimeters in height, forming clumps or singular spindly stems. The stem is erect and may be reddish to green, and has the occasional threadlike leaf with sparse hairs to a coat of dense wool. The flower clusters at the tips of the stems are packed with pointed, leaflike green to red leafs and funnel-shaped flowers. The corolla of the flower has five lobes each one half to one centimeter long and pale to bright blue. The throat of the flower is the same color or yellowish to white. At the mouth of the tube there may be dots of yellow and white. The light colored stamens protrude.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

2 - 16 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Blue

Sun

Full Sun

Site type

Dry places

Plant communities

Chaparral, Joshua Tree Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Schinia aurantiaca