Calochortus coeruleus
A California-endemic bulbous perennial in the lily family, bearing light blue, brush-hairy, spade-shaped petals that bloom in spring and reach about 6 inches tall in open gravelly sites, with a documented taxonomic history including an early basionym, a later reclassification, and notes on the historical spelling caeruleus.
Common Names
Beavertail Grass, Blue Star Tulip
Summary
Blue star tulip, also called beavertail grass, is a bulbous perennial herb native to California and endemic to the North California Coast Ranges, Southern Cascade Range, and Northern Sierra Nevada; it reaches about 6 inches in height with basal leaves 10–20 cm long and stems 3–20 cm, and blooms in spring with light blue spade-shaped petals that are clawed, fringed at the margins, and with inner surfaces very hairy.
Growth conditions include full sun to partial shade and fast-draining, open gravelly soils; water requirements are low with never irrigating during summer once established; elevational range 600–2500 m; natural setting open gravelly places; likely hosting for butterflies and moths.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-8 inches
Spread
1-8 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Fast-draining, gravelly mineral soil
Soil Drainage
Fast drainage
Bloom Color
White, Lavender, Blue
Bloom Time
Spring
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies and moths
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Kellogg) S.Watson
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 263 (1879)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Liliales
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Genus
- Calochortus
Synonyms
Calochortus coeruleus var. maweanus Cyclobothra coerulea Cyclobothra elegans Calochortus caeruleus var. fimbriatus Calochortus maweanus Calochortus coeruleus var. coeruleus Cyclobothra maweama