Muilla maritima
Common muilla
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Themidaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Muilla maritima (Common muilla) is a native California herb in the Themidaceae family, recognized by distinctive thread-like filaments and colored anthers.
Common muilla is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges, Central Valley, central western California, and southwestern California in coastal scrub, grassland, woodland, and valley habitats at elevations up to 2,300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white-green flowers with subtle brown midveins, accompanied by distinctive blue, green, or purple anthers. Growing with slender stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops multiple leaves ranging from 10 to 60 centimeters in length. Its leaves are linear and numerous, typically 3 to 10 in number, emerging in dense clusters with thread-like characteristics. The fruit develops to 5 to 8 millimeters in length, completing the plant's seasonal cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive thread-like filaments and colored anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub, grassland, woodland, valleys
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Merced, Plumas, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Yolo, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Sonoma, Monterey, Orange, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, San Joaquin, Inyo, Madera, Tulare, Placer, Alameda, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Marin, San Benito, Solano, Tuolumne, Nevada, Lake, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Muilla maritima blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Muilla has white spreading petals; Triteleia has tubular purple, blue, or yellow flowers.; vs Allium: Muilla has no onion smell; Allium smells like onion when crushed.; vs Toxicoscordion: Muilla flowers in loose clusters on short stems; Toxicoscordion flowers in dense spike-like racemes.; vs Nothoscordum: Muilla has truly scentless flowers; Nothoscordum has faint garlic smell and flowers in umbels.; vs Bloomeria: Muilla has white flowers; Bloomeria has golden-yellow flowers with a visible nectar cup.
Frequently asked questions
Is Muilla maritima native to California?
Yes. Muilla maritima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muilla maritima bloom?
Muilla maritima blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Muilla maritima grow?
Muilla maritima occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Merced, Plumas, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Muilla maritima belong to?
Muilla maritima is in the Themidaceae family, genus Muilla.
What habitat does Muilla maritima grow in?
Muilla maritima grows in Coastal scrub, grassland, woodland, valleys.
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.