prairie wildflower

Bluehead gilia

Gilia capitata

Also known as Blue-head Gily-flower, Globe Gilia, Blue Gilia

Native to California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

Coast Ranges from Marin county, California, north to British Columbia and Idaho; naturalized locally in Santa Cruz Mountains

In the garden

A prairie wildflower for full sun. Its blue flowers peak in June. At up to 3 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 5–11.

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Find your zone:

The Bluehead gilia's blue flowers bloom April to July, peaking in June. This early-summer display draws butterflies and bees.

Bluehead gilia blooms blueFoliage

Butterflies Pearl Crescent

also Fiery Skipper, Painted Lady, Orange Sulphur +21 more
Common Checkered-Skipper and Allies, Common Wood-Nymph, Gray Buckeye, Woodland Skipper, Variable Checkerspot, Acmon Blue, Umber Skipper, Boisduval's Blue, Mournful Duskywing, Northern Checkerspot, Behr's Metalmark, Dreamy Duskywing, Pacific Fritillary, Nelson's Hairstreak, Argynnis coronis simaetha, Plebejus podarce, Sara Orangetip, Cyaniris neglecta, Large Marble, Muir's Hairstreak, Eresia aveyrona mylitta
Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Ligated Furrow Bee, Black-tailed Bumble Bee +13 more
Pure Green Sweat bee, Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, European Woolcarder Bee, Two-form Bumble Bee, Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Urbane Digger Bee, Yellowish Cuckoo Bumble bee, Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Wide-striped Sweat Bee, Van Dyke's Bumble Bee, Narrow-legged Miner Bee, Micralictoides grossus, Bombus flavidus flavidus
Flower flies Common Drone Fly

also Eurasian Drone Fly, Western Aphideater, Black-margined Flower Fly +2 more
Yellow-legged Wood Fly, Eurasian Smoothwing
Also visited by
- Beetles: Banded Longhorn Beetle, Variegated Lady Beetle
- Moths: Rocky Mountain Clearwing

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Habitat: PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: California, Idaho, Oregon, and WashingtonUnited States (4): CA, ID, OR, WA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Coast Ranges from Marin county, California, north to British Columbia and Idaho; naturalized locally in Santa Cruz MountainsThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Light: Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Hardiness zones: USDA 5–11 · Canadian 3–9The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Well-drained soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.

Height: up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: Annual or perennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).