Platystemon californicus, Creamcups
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Creamcups is a beautiful spring wildflower that grows in many types of habitat, its form often varies according to geography and habitat conditions. It is usually at least a bit hairy, sometimes quite woolly but the coastal forms may be hairless and a bit succulent, while semidesert individuals can be squat, hairy plants. It is popular as an ornamental plant for landscaping and revegetation of recently burned areas.
It blooms in late winter and spring along the coast, in the foothills, and the Coast Ranges. It is found in open grasslands and sandy soil and grows to 8–12 inches. Give it full sun and low water. The flowers are partly wind-pollinated and partly pollinated by solitary bees.
It produces a single flower on a tall stem up to 15 inches high that can be quite variable in color. There are five basic color patterns: solid white, solid yellow, and a white petal with a yellow tip or yellow base or both. The center of the flower is filled with a tufted cluster of many thick, flattened stamens.