prairie wildflower
Creamcups
Platystemon californicus
Also known as California Creamcups
1 of 3Native to Arizona, California, and Utah
Desert areas of Arizona, southern Utah and southern California
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–May Flowering time
- Height up to 1 ft to 0.3 m
- Life cycle Annual Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and evenly moist soil. Its white and yellow flowers peak in April. At up to 1 ft, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Creamcups's white and yellow flowers bloom March to May, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and moths.
Creamcups blooms white & yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Black-legged Miner
also Andrena nigroclypeata, Andrena plumiscopa, Andrena angusticrus +4 more
Andrena aquila, Andrena stipator, Andrena biareola, Micralictoides mojavensis - Moths Schinia pulchripennis
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona, California, and UtahUnited States (3): AZ, CA, UT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Desert areas of Arizona, southern Utah and southern CaliforniaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Moist but well-drained soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 1 ft (to 0.3 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~0 ft (0.1 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Mar–JunThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.