Saltugilia caruifolia
Caraway-leaved woodland-gilia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Saltugilia caruifolia (Caraway-leaved woodland-gilia) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by elevation and exserted purple tube with prominent stamens.
Caraway-leaved woodland-gilia is a California native annual found in the Peninsular Ranges in openings of chaparral or forest with rocky soil at elevations of 1,400 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces lavender to blue flowers with white throats and purple-marked bases, nestled in clusters with delicate purple corollas 7 to 13 millimeters long. Growing with a single stem 10 to 100 centimeters tall, its stems are relatively slender with spreading branch structures. Its leaves are finely divided, typical of its caraway-leaved designation, with delicate, intricate leaflet arrangements. The small fruit measures 3 to 5 millimeters long, containing 4 to 7 seeds per chamber.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; elevation and exserted purple tube with prominent stamens are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in chaparral or forest, rocky soil
Elevation: 1400-2300 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Saltugilia caruifolia blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 caruifolia native to California?
Yes. Saltugilia caruifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Saltugilia caruifolia bloom?
Saltugilia caruifolia blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Saltugilia caruifolia grow?
Saltugilia caruifolia occurs in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, at elevations of 1400-2300 m.
What plant family does Saltugilia caruifolia belong to?
Saltugilia caruifolia is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Saltugilia.
Is Saltugilia caruifolia rare or endangered?
Saltugilia caruifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.