Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa
Woolly-headed gilia, Woolly-Headed Gilia
(c) Cliff Hutson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa (Woolly-headed gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: tomentose inflorescence base, sessile flowers, sea bluff habitat.
Woolly-headed gilia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern coastal California, including northwestern coastal areas, southeastern north Coast Ranges, and north-central Coast Ranges, occurring on sea bluffs and serpentine outcrops at elevations below 30 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright blue-violet flowers in dense heads 20 to 35 millimeters wide with linear corolla lobes. Growing with stout stems 10 to 70 centimeters tall that are generally hairy, it forms an upright and robust annual structure. Its leaves are intricately 2-pinnate-lobed, creating a delicate and feathery foliage pattern. The fruit is small, spheric to ovoid, measuring 3 to 3.8 millimeters long and contained within the densely hairy calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species. Key features: tomentose inflorescence base, sessile flowers, sea bluff habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sea bluffs, outcrops (serpentine)
Elevation: < 30 m
California counties: Marin, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Solano
Bloom period
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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. tomentosa native to California?
Yes. Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa bloom?
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa grow?
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa occurs in Marin, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Solano, at elevations of < 30 m.
What plant family does Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa belong to?
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
Is Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa rare or endangered?
Gilia capitata subsp. tomentosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.