Gilia scopulorum
Rock gilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia scopulorum (Rock gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by semi-shaded rocky habitat and distinctive black flat-topped glands.
Rock gilia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, eastern Mojave Desert, and Desert Sonoran regions in semi-shaded, rocky ravines at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces lavender to pink flowers with yellow throats in delicate, open inflorescences. Growing with erect branches 10 to 30 centimeters tall that are glandular-hairy, it develops lower leaves in a suberect rosette with intricate 1 to 2-pinnate lobes. Its leaves feature translucent glandular hairs with linear axes that merge into short-pointed toothed lobes, while upper leaves become progressively smaller and minimally toothed. The fruit is widely ovoid to spheric, measuring 5 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are semi-shaded rocky habitat and distinctive black flat-topped glands
Habitat and range
Habitat: Semi-shaded, rocky ravines
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Yolo
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Gilia scopulorum 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 scopulorum native to California?
Yes. Gilia scopulorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia scopulorum bloom?
Gilia scopulorum blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Gilia scopulorum grow?
Gilia scopulorum occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Yolo, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Gilia scopulorum belong to?
Gilia scopulorum is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia scopulorum grow in?
Gilia scopulorum grows in Semi-shaded, rocky ravines.
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.