Gilia yorkii
Monarch gilia, Monarch Gilia
(c) Ryan Elliott, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Gilia yorkii (Monarch gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by limestone habitat and small pale flowers.
Monarch gilia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains on sunny to semi-shaded, sand- and gravel-filled limestone terraces at elevations of 1,290 to 1,830 meters. Flowering from May to July, this delicate plant produces white to pale lavender or blue flowers with ovate, obtuse lobes in open, thread-like inflorescences. Growing with spreading branches 10 to 25 centimeters tall, covered in long, soft, wavy hairs below and glandular above, it has a distinctive branching structure. Its lower leaves form a non-persistent rosette with 1 to 2 pinnate-lobed segments, 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long, featuring distinct lobes with sharp-pointed teeth. The fruit is widely ovoid, 3 to 4.5 millimeters long, containing 6 to 12 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key features are limestone habitat and small pale flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sunny to semi-shaded, sand-, gravel-filled terraces of limestone
Elevation: 1290-1830 m
California counties: Fresno
Bloom period
Gilia yorkii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 yorkii native to California?
Yes. Gilia yorkii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Gilia yorkii bloom?
Gilia yorkii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Gilia yorkii grow?
Gilia yorkii occurs in Fresno, at elevations of 1290-1830 m.
What plant family does Gilia yorkii belong to?
Gilia yorkii is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Gilia.
Is Gilia yorkii rare or endangered?
Gilia yorkii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Gilia achilleifolia — California gilia
- Gilia achilleifolia subsp. achilleifolia
- Gilia achilleifolia subsp. multicaulis
- Gilia aliquanta — Puffcalyx gilia
- Gilia aliquanta subsp. aliquanta
- Gilia aliquanta subsp. breviloba
- Gymnosteris parvula — Small flowered gymnosteris
- Gymnosteris sp.
- Ipomopsis aggregata — Scarlet gilia
- Ipomopsis aggregata subsp. aggregata
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.