Bloomeria crocea aka Common Golden Star

Bloomeria crocea is a small plant in the Asparagaceae family. It grows from a bulb and lives for many years. Its common names include golden star and St Jerome's lily. Its native range spans southwestern California and Baja California, Mexico. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Kew places it in a subtropical climate. Wild plants grow on dry flats and hillsides. They also grow in chaparral, coastal scrub, grassland, and oak woodland.

Plants reach about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. They spread about 0.3 feet (0.1 metres). This small size suits garden beds where taller plants would crowd them. An organ below ground stores food to fuel each season's growth. The leaves die back before a dry rest period. Flowers appear from May to June. Each flower has both male and female organs. The sources give no more facts about flowers or fruit.

Choose a warm site with no shade and good drainage. Rich sandy loam meets the plant's stated needs. Both sandy soil and loam suit it. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. Wild plants may grow in heavy soil, despite this garden advice. Give plenty of water while the plant grows. Once the leaves die, keep it quite dry until autumn. This change with the seasons matters more than one year-round watering rule. PFAF lists USDA zones 7–10. It gives a cold tolerance around 14–23°F (−10 to −5°C). It warns against growing it in colder parts of Britain.

Grow plants from seed or divide their offsets, the small new bulbs. Sow ripe seed at once, or sow in February or March. Use compost that drains well, and grow under glass. Seeds sprout in one to three months at about 59°F (15°C). Keep seedlings in their first pot for a year. Give liquid feed now and then to help prevent nutrient shortages. Move the small bulbs during their rest period. Then grow them in a cold frame for shelter. PFAF advises two more years there before planting in autumn. Plants form many offsets. Divide those large enough to flower in autumn.

PFAF gives the plant a low rating for food use. It lists the bulb below ground as food, including raw use. It also describes a glue made from bulbs in traditional use. People used it to seal gaps in seed-gathering baskets. The source lists no medicinal use and no known hazards. This does not prove safety for people or pets. It lists no weed potential. It gives no details about pests or disease.