Gilia cana subsp. bernardina
Photo: parent species Gilia cana · (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by few-flowered clusters and wide throat.
Bernard gilia is a California native annual found in the northern Santa Barbara Mountains and southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert in open, gravelly or sandy flats and washes at elevations of 800 to 1,890 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces delicate white to pale lavender flowers with wide, 4 to 6 millimeter lobes in small clusters of 2 to 3 blooms. Growing with densely tufted, woolly-hairy stems approximately 10 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in harsh desert environments. Its basal leaves are distinctively dense and covered in woolly hairs, creating a soft, grayish appearance that helps the plant retain moisture in arid landscapes. The fruit is widely ovoid, measuring 5 to 9 millimeters long and containing 12 to 18 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species - distinguished by few-flowered clusters and wide throat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, gravelly or sandy flats, washes
Elevation: 800-1890 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Bloom period
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina blooms Apr-May.
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 cana subsp. bernardina native to California?
Yes. Gilia cana subsp. bernardina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia cana subsp. bernardina bloom?
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Gilia cana subsp. bernardina grow?
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 800-1890 m.
What plant family does Gilia cana subsp. bernardina belong to?
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia cana subsp. bernardina grow in?
Gilia cana subsp. bernardina grows in Open, gravelly or sandy flats, washes.
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.