prairie wildflower
Bird's-eye gilia
Gilia tricolor
1 of 2Native to California
California Coast Ranges from San Benito to Humboldt counties, Central Valley from Tulare to Tehama counties and northern Sierran foothills
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–May Flowering time
- Height up to 15 in to 38 cm
- Life cycle Annual Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun. Its blue and purple flowers peak in April. At up to 15 in, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Bird's-eye gilia's blue and purple flowers bloom March to May, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and moths.
Bird's-eye gilia blooms blue & purpleFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, Orange-legged Furrow Bee +5 more
Tripartite Sweat Bee, Anthophora edwardsii, Very Smooth Sweat Bee, Olympia Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum zonulum - Moths White-lined Sphinx also Clark's Sphinx
- Flower flies Oblique Streaktail also Copestylum fraudulentum
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Edwards' hairstreaknectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- CaliforniaUnited States (1): CA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- California Coast Ranges from San Benito to Humboldt counties, Central Valley from Tulare to Tehama counties and northern Sierran foothillsThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Soil
- Various soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 15 in (to 38 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Blue, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.