Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha
San bernardino gilia, San Bernardino Gilia
(c) Tom Hilton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Hilton · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha (San bernardino gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: large flowers with narrow tube 2-4× calyx, narrow petals.
San bernardino gilia is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native annual found in the San Bernardino Mountains in open, rocky soil, forest, and streambank habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate, narrow white to pale blue flowers with corollas 13 to 23 millimeters long, featuring a narrow tube that flares to a narrow throat. Growing with spreading or erect stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and open branching structure. Its leaves are finely divided, creating a feathery appearance across the plant's slender form. The fruit is small, ovoid, and measures 3 to 4.5 millimeters in length, remaining shorter than the plant's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species. Key features: large flowers with narrow tube 2-4× calyx, narrow petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky soil, forest, streambanks
Elevation: 1500-2300 m
Bloom period
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 leptantha subsp. leptantha native to California?
Yes. Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha bloom?
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha belong to?
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
Is Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha rare or endangered?
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha grow in?
Gilia leptantha subsp. leptantha grows in Open, rocky soil, forest, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.