Gilia capitata subsp. capitata
(c) Cliff Hutson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by narrow linear petals and white membranes.
blue globe gilia is a California native annual found in the northwestern California, Cascade Range, and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions on rocky slopes at elevations of 30 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from April to August, this delicate plant produces pale blue-violet flowers in dense heads 14 to 40 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall that can be glabrous, glandular, or hairy, it develops finely divided two-pinnate leaves. Its intricate leaves are deeply lobed, creating a feathery texture across the plant's structure. The small spherical fruits measure 2.5 to 3.7 millimeters long, with seed capsules containing one to six seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species - distinguished by narrow linear petals and white membranes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 30-2400 m
California counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Napa, Siskiyou, Shasta, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Sonoma, Marin, Trinity, Lake, Glenn, El Dorado, Solano, Del Norte, Colusa, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Plumas, Contra Costa, Nevada, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Butte, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, Yolo
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho
Bloom period
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata blooms Apr-Aug(Sep--Nov).
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 capitata subsp. capitata native to California?
Yes. Gilia capitata subsp. capitata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia capitata subsp. capitata bloom?
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata blooms Apr-Aug(Sep--Nov).
Where in California does Gilia capitata subsp. capitata grow?
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata occurs in Humboldt, Mendocino, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Napa, Siskiyou, Shasta, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of 30-2400 m.
What plant family does Gilia capitata subsp. capitata belong to?
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia capitata subsp. capitata grow in?
Gilia capitata subsp. capitata grows in Rocky slopes.
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.