Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora
Broad-leaved gilia, Broad-Leaved Gilia
(c) Florian Boyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora (Broad-leaved gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: glaucous stem, white-veined tube, widely expanded throat.
Broad-leaved gilia is a California native annual found in the Tehachapi, Western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, northern San Bernardino Mountains, and southwestern Mojave Desert regions on open, sandy flats at elevations of 120 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with purple throat bases and yellow spots, delicately veined in white, with corollas 15 to 22 millimeters long. Growing with glabrous stems 10 to 33 centimeters tall that are glaucous below the middle, the plant has an elegant, slender form. Its leaves are finely structured, though specific leaf details are not prominent in the source description. The fruit measures 6 to 9 millimeters long, completing the plant's reproductive cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species. Key features: glaucous stem, white-veined tube, widely expanded throat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, sandy flats
Elevation: 120-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego
Bloom period
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora 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 latiflora subsp. latiflora native to California?
Yes. Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora bloom?
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora grow?
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 120-2500 m.
What plant family does Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora belong to?
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora grow in?
Gilia latiflora subsp. latiflora grows in Common. Open, sandy flats.
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.