Gilia sinuata
Rosy gilia, Rosy Gilia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia sinuata (Rosy gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by prostrate rosette, glaucous stems, and white pollen.
Rosy gilia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert in open, sandy flats at elevations of 150 to 2,750 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces purple, lavender, or white flowers with white-veined purple corollas and yellow throats, measuring 7 to 12 millimeters long. Growing with 1 to several spreading stems 13 to 34 centimeters tall, it forms a prostrate rosette with glaucous lower stems. Its basal leaves are pinnate-lobed with spreading, toothed segments, while cauline leaves become progressively reduced and clasping. The small fruit measures 4 to 7 millimeters long, containing 9 to 27 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; key features are prostrate rosette, glaucous stems, and white pollen
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy flats
Elevation: 150-2750 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Riverside, Mono, Lassen, San Diego, Ventura, Modoc, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Plumas, Santa Clara, San Benito
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona
Bloom period
Gilia sinuata blooms Apr-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 sinuata native to California?
Yes. Gilia sinuata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia sinuata bloom?
Gilia sinuata blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia sinuata grow?
Gilia sinuata occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Riverside, Mono, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 150-2750 m.
What plant family does Gilia sinuata belong to?
Gilia sinuata is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia sinuata grow in?
Gilia sinuata grows in Open, sandy flats.
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.