Gilia angelensis
Chaparral gilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia angelensis (Chaparral gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by cup-shaped yellow throat and blue calyx membranes.
Chaparral gilia is a California native annual found in central coastal California, eastern San Francisco Bay's Mount Hamilton Range, southern coastal ranges, and southwestern California in open, sandy or rocky, generally grassy areas at elevations of 200 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces delicate white to lavender flowers with yellow throats approximately 6 to 11 millimeters long in small open clusters. Growing with branching erect stems 7 to 70 centimeters tall, the plant has short translucent hairs near its base. Its basal leaves form an upright cluster with 1 to 2 pinnate-lobed divisions, featuring linear leaf lobes that are glabrous or short-hairy. The small ovoid fruits contain 18 to 30 light brown seeds, each less than 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 38 sympatric species - distinguished by cup-shaped yellow throat and blue calyx membranes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy or rocky, generally grassy areas
Elevation: (5)200-1900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Merced, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Benito
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Gilia angelensis blooms Feb-Jun.
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 angelensis native to California?
Yes. Gilia angelensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia angelensis bloom?
Gilia angelensis blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia angelensis grow?
Gilia angelensis occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura, Sacramento, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of (5)200-1900 m.
What plant family does Gilia angelensis belong to?
Gilia angelensis is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia angelensis grow in?
Gilia angelensis grows in Open, sandy or rocky, generally 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.