Gilia ophthalmoides
Eyed gilia, yellow-eyed gilia, Yellow-Eyed Gilia
(c) Henrik Kibak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Henrik Kibak · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia ophthalmoides (Eyed gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by key diagnostic is the distinctive eyed flower pattern.
Eyed gilia is a California native annual found in northern Mojave Desert Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains in open, rocky pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,100 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate purple and bright yellow flowers with pink corolla lobes approximately 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with branching stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, densely covered in woolly hairs below the middle and becoming glandular toward the upper portions. Its lower leaves form a dense rosette, intricately divided into 1 to 2 pinnate lobes with spreading, toothed linear axes. The small ovoid fruits measure 4 to 6.5 millimeters long and typically remain shorter than the plant's calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key diagnostic is the distinctive eyed flower pattern
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky soil, generally pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1100-2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Lassen, San Diego, Riverside
Outside California: to Colorado, Arizona
Bloom period
Gilia ophthalmoides blooms May-Jun.
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 ophthalmoides native to California?
Yes. Gilia ophthalmoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia ophthalmoides bloom?
Gilia ophthalmoides blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia ophthalmoides grow?
Gilia ophthalmoides occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Lassen, San Diego, Riverside, at elevations of 1100-2600 m.
What plant family does Gilia ophthalmoides belong to?
Gilia ophthalmoides is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia ophthalmoides grow in?
Gilia ophthalmoides grows in Open, rocky soil, generally pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.