Gilia nevinii
Nevin's gilia
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Gilia nevinii (Nevin's gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by . Key features: erect branches, white/translucent hairs, very narrow leaf segments, blue pollen.
Nevin's gilia is a California native annual found in the Channel Islands in rocky, grassy coastal canyons at elevations of 7 to 600 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces lavender flowers with a narrow yellow throat, approximately 8 to 14 millimeters long. Growing with erect branches 10 to 40 centimeters tall, covered in white or translucent hairs, it has a delicate and intricate structure. Its leaves are 2 to 3-pinnate-lobed, with extremely fine lobes less than 1 millimeter wide, and are sparingly hairy. The plant produces blue pollen and contains 24 to 36 seeds in a narrowly ovoid fruit measuring 6 to 8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species. Key features: erect branches, white/translucent hairs, very narrow leaf segments, blue pollen
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, grassy slopes, coastal canyons
Elevation: 7-600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California (Guadalupe Island)
Bloom period
Gilia nevinii blooms Mar-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 nevinii native to California?
Yes. Gilia nevinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia nevinii bloom?
Gilia nevinii blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Gilia nevinii grow?
Gilia nevinii occurs in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, at elevations of 7-600 m.
What plant family does Gilia nevinii belong to?
Gilia nevinii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
Is Gilia nevinii rare or endangered?
Gilia nevinii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
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.