[3][1] Chromosome number is 2n = 60 In 1940, Robert F. Hoover, on his monograph of Chlorogalum, noted a division in the genus on the basis of diurnal and vespertine flowering species.

The karyotypes of the diurnal species were noted to have five, instead of six pairs of large chromosomes, which means they were not simply just polyploids formed from the doubling of a 2n = 30 base.

The diurnal species were suggested to be sister to a larger clade comprising the vespertine Chlorogalum, Hastingsia, and Camassia.

[7][1] A 2018 paper in Phytoneuron described Hooveria as a taxonomic genus, composed of the two diurnal species, based on the evidence provided by the phylogenetic research that Chlorogalum comprises two lineages.

The northern species, Hooveria purpurea is native to Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, where it is found in foothill woodland areas.