Bloomeria is a genus with only two species which is native to the dry foothills of southern California where it is found in grasslands, open woodlands, or the edge of chaparral.This genus has been considered to be a member of many different families in the past (Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, Alliaceae). Recent work is now placing it in a new family, Themidaceae, which includes other California genera (Androstephium, Brodiaea, Dichelostemma, Muilla, and Triteleia.) Bloomeria looks superficially much like Allium but each anther filament bears a cup-like apendage at its base.
Bloomeria crocea is shown in various stages of bloom in the pictures shown below. Bloomeria looks good massed and blends nicely with other yellows and with the blues of triteleias, dichelostemmas, and brodiaeas. Photos below show a series of bloom. The first photo is when it was in bud and a Dichelostemma multiflorum is coming up through the umbel and Triteleia ixiodes is below. In the second (photo by Mary Sue Ittner) the flowers are starting to open. In the third the flowers are fully open and in the last picture it is growing with Triteleia laxa. The leaves have all dried up by this time. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller except for the second one.
Bloomeria humilis is a rare plant known from only two populations in San Luis Obispo County where it is found on open grasslands and the edge of chaparral. It is a much shorter plant with lobes that ascend at the base and then spread. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner. The first photo was taken as the flowers were first starting to bloom. The second was taken a week later when most of the blossoms were open and giving you an idea of how many flowers in a pot can be in bloom at once. The last photo was taken almost a month after the first as the last flowers were opening. At this stage the petals look narrower than they did in the beginning and more spreading. It makes you realize how difficult it is to create keys as flowers change over time.
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