Zeltnera venusta is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names California centaury, charming centaury and canchalagua.

It grows in many habitats up to elevations around 1300 meters.

It is an annual wildflower rarely reaching half a meter in height.

The pointed oval leaves grow opposite on the thin stems.

The inflorescence is tipped with one or more showy star-shaped flowers, each with a white-centered magenta corolla about 2 centimeters wide.