Gilia salticola
Salt gilia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia salticola (Salt gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by bright pink petals longer than throat and black gland dots.
Salt gilia is a California native annual found in the southern Sierra Nevada, western Mono Pass, and northwestern Mono County in open, volcanic or granitic areas at elevations of 1,350 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces yellow flowers with bright pink-lavender lobes 3 to 6 millimeters long, creating a striking color contrast. Growing with spreading branches 4 to 20 centimeters tall, densely covered in woolly hairs, it forms compact tufted clusters. Its basal leaves are intricately divided into 1 to 2 pinnate lobes, each 2 to 3 millimeters wide, and densely covered in soft, woolly hairs. The tiny fruits are ovoid, measuring 4 to 6 millimeters long and containing 10 to 15 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; key features are bright pink petals longer than throat and black gland dots
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, volcanic or granitic areas
Elevation: 1350-2700 m
California counties: Lassen, Alpine, Modoc, Mono
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Gilia salticola 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 salticola native to California?
Yes. Gilia salticola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia salticola bloom?
Gilia salticola blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia salticola grow?
Gilia salticola occurs in Lassen, Alpine, Modoc, Mono, at elevations of 1350-2700 m.
What plant family does Gilia salticola belong to?
Gilia salticola is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia salticola grow in?
Gilia salticola grows in Open, volcanic or granitic areas.
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.