Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family.
allophyllum is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in open, sandy, generally damp or grassy areas at elevations of 200 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate flowers in small, dense clusters. Growing with slender stems less than 40 centimeters tall, it has a compact, branching structure. Its lower leaves are distinctively pinnately lobed, with 5 to 11 lobes each 2 to 4 millimeters wide, creating a finely textured appearance. The flowers have corollas 6 to 10 millimeters long, adding a subtle decorative element to its grassy habitats.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy, generally damp or grassy areas
Elevation: 200-1900 m
California counties: Placer, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Butte, Alameda, Tulare, Modoc, Monterey, Fresno, El Dorado, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, Santa Clara, Shasta, Calaveras, Contra Costa, San Benito, Lake, Sutter, Mono, San Diego, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, San Joaquin, Tehama, Ventura, Glenn, Colusa, Inyo, Solano, Napa, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Allophyllum has long fuzzy hairs; Gilia has white cobwebby or sharply bent hairs.; vs Microsteris: Allophyllum has variable long hairs and sticky seeds; Microsteris has short uniform hairs and dry seeds.; vs Eriastrum: Allophyllum is fuzzy-hairy; Eriastrum has woolly-white flower heads.; vs Collomia: Allophyllum has funnel flowers and sticky seeds; Collomia has trumpet flowers and dry seeds.; vs Linanthus: Allophyllum is conspicuously fuzzy with long hairs; Linanthus is less hairy or smooth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides native to California?
Yes. Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides bloom?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides grow?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides occurs in Placer, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Butte, Alameda, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 200-1900 m.
What plant family does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides belong to?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Allophyllum.
What habitat does Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides grow in?
Allophyllum gilioides subsp. gilioides grows in Open, sandy, generally damp or grassy areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.