Gilia achilleifolia
California gilia
(c) Drew Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia achilleifolia (California gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family.
California gilia is a California native annual herb found in various bioregions in open grasslands, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral at elevations ranging from near sea level to 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces lavender or white flowers 5 to 21 millimeters long with spreading corolla lobes. Growing with slender stems 15 to 70 centimeters tall that are glabrous or slightly hairy near the base, it develops delicate branching structures. Its basal leaves form a distinctive rosette with finely divided, linear lobes 3 to 25 millimeters long that spread in slightly curved patterns. The plant produces between 9 to 21 seeds, creating delicate seed clusters in its terminal inflorescences.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, Fresno, San Joaquin, Tulare, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Merced, San Benito, Orange, San Diego, Marin, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tehama, Tuolumne, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Kern, El Dorado
How to tell it apart
vs Saltugilia: Gilia has white cobwebby or sharply bent hairs; Saltugilia has translucent, barely glandular hairs.; vs Navarretia: Gilia has cobwebby/bent hairs; Navarretia has very short uniform glandular hairs and spiny flower heads.; vs Phacelia: Gilia has white cobwebby hairs; Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and straight bristly hairs.; vs Allophyllum: Gilia has white cobwebby or bent hairs; Allophyllum has long fuzzy glandular hairs.; vs Aliciella: Gilia has funnel-shaped flowers; Aliciella has wheel-shaped flowers with spreading lobes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gilia achilleifolia native to California?
Yes. Gilia achilleifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Gilia achilleifolia grow?
Gilia achilleifolia occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, Fresno and other counties.
What plant family does Gilia achilleifolia belong to?
Gilia achilleifolia is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
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.