Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by black glands and narrow V-shaped throat.
Brecciarum gilia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, northern Sierra San Gabriel, San Bernardino Mountains, Great Basin, and Death Valley Mountains, specifically in the Cottonwood Mountains, growing in sandy flats within open woodland and scrub at elevations of 915 to 2,560 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces distinctive purple and pink-lavender flowers with white bases, featuring a narrowly V-shaped throat that transitions from purple to yellow with purple veins. Growing with spreading to nearly erect branches, the plant develops delicate stems that support its intricate floral structure. Its flowers are relatively small, with a calyx measuring 2.5 to 4 millimeters long and a corolla ranging from 8 to 11 millimeters, creating an elegant and compact botanical form. The flower's complex color pattern—with its purple base, yellow throat, and pink-lavender lobes—makes this gilia a particularly striking example of its genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species - distinguished by black glands and narrow V-shaped throat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats in open woodland, scrub
Elevation: 915-2560 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Tulare, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Mono, Modoc, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen
Outside California: to southeastern Oregon, Utah
Bloom period
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum blooms Apr-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 brecciarum subsp. brecciarum native to California?
Yes. Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum bloom?
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum grow?
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, Tulare, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 915-2560 m.
What plant family does Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum belong to?
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum grow in?
Gilia brecciarum subsp. brecciarum grows in Sandy flats in open woodland, scrub.
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.