Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora
Slender-flowered gilia, greater yellowthroat gilia, Greater Yellowthroat Gilia
(c) Henrik Kibak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Henrik Kibak · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora (Slender-flowered gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by slender tubes and purple throat with yellow spots.
Slender-flowered gilia is a California native annual found in the central coastal and southern coastal ranges in sandy hills, floodplains, and dry riverbeds at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale flowers with a distinctive purple throat and pale yellow spots, with delicate corollas 11.5 to 22 millimeters long. Growing with spreading branches 15 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant has stems that are either smooth or lightly woolly-hairy. Its basal leaves form a suberect cluster, finely divided into 1 to 2 pinnate lobes each 1 to 2 millimeters wide, with tufted woolly hairs in the leaf axils. The plant's flowers feature stamens that extend beyond the corolla and a style that surpasses the anthers, creating a delicate and intricate botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key features are slender tubes and purple throat with yellow spots
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand hills, floodplains, dry riverbeds
Elevation: 100-1530 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Kern, Inyo, Ventura
Bloom period
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora blooms Mar-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 tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora native to California?
Yes. Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora bloom?
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora grow?
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Kern, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 100-1530 m.
What plant family does Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora belong to?
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
What habitat does Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora grow in?
Gilia tenuiflora subsp. tenuiflora grows in Sand hills, floodplains, dry riverbeds.
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.