Saltugilia australis
Southern gilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Saltugilia australis (Southern gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by white corolla with included tube vs purple/pink corollas with exserted tubes.
Southern gilia is a California native annual found in the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Desert bioregions in chaparral with sandy-gravelly soil at elevations of 600 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to light pink or blue flowers with white throats and corollas 5 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with a single stem 5 to 50 centimeters tall, it has ascending branches and delicate flower clusters. Its stems bear flowers with pedicels 4 to 25 millimeters long, producing 7 to 13 seeds per seed chamber. The fruit ranges 4 to 7 millimeters in length, typically 1 to 2 times the size of its calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are white corolla with included tube vs purple/pink corollas with exserted tubes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, sandy-gravelly soil
Elevation: 600-1200 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Imperial, Kern
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Saltugilia australis blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Gilia: Saltugilia lacks white cobwebby hairs; Gilia has distinctive white cobwebby or bent hairs.; vs Navarretia: Wet the seeds - Saltugilia seeds stay dry; Navarretia seeds become gelatinous and sticky.; vs Erodium: Saltugilia has radially symmetric flowers; Erodium has bilateral flowers and long-beaked fruits.; vs Leptosiphon: Saltugilia has bell/funnel flowers in clusters; Leptosiphon has tubular flowers with spreading lobes.; vs Stephanomeria: Saltugilia has simple flowers; Stephanomeria has dandelion-like flower heads with only ray flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saltugilia australis native to California?
Yes. Saltugilia australis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Saltugilia australis bloom?
Saltugilia australis blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Saltugilia australis grow?
Saltugilia australis occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of 600-1200 m.
What plant family does Saltugilia australis belong to?
Saltugilia australis is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Saltugilia.
What habitat does Saltugilia australis grow in?
Saltugilia australis grows in Chaparral, sandy-gravelly soil.
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.