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Gilia capitata

bluehead gilia

Polemoniaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Gilia capitata is an annual wildflower in the phlox family, growing 1-3 ft (30-90 cm) tall on slender, branching stems. The lower leaves are finely divided into thread-like segments, giving a soft, ferny look, and become smaller up the stem. From May to July each stem tip carries a dense, rounded head about 1 in (2.5 cm) across, packed with 50 to 100 small, pale blue to lavender-blue flowers with protruding blue stamens. The globe-shaped heads draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinators through early summer. After bloom the heads dry to small seed capsules that release tiny seed. The plant grows in open, sunny ground in chaparral openings, grasslands, burned areas, and on rocky or sandy slopes across western North America. As an annual it germinates with autumn or winter rains, flowers, and dies by midsummer, returning from self-sown seed. It tolerates poor, dry soils but flowers poorly in shade or rich, wet ground. It resembles other gilias but is told apart by its dense, globe-shaped blue flower heads.

Native Range

Gilia capitata is native to western North America, from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California to Baja California, and east into the northern Rockies. It grows in grasslands, chaparral openings, burned ground, and on rocky or sandy slopes.

Suggested Uses

Gilia capitata is used in wildflower meadows, pollinator plantings, cottage borders, and native seed mixes for its blue early-summer heads. Its flowers support bees and butterflies, and it works as a cut flower. It suits sunny, low-water gardens and disturbed or restored ground.

How to Identify

Gilia capitata is recognized by its slender stems, finely divided ferny lower leaves, and dense, globe-shaped heads of 50 to 100 small pale blue flowers with protruding stamens. The rounded blue flower heads at the stem tips separate it from open-flowered gilias. Its annual habit and ferny foliage confirm the identification.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from May to July, peaking in early summer. Each rounded head opens many small blue flowers over one to two weeks. Bees and butterflies work the heads, which dry to seed capsules by midsummer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale blue to lavender-blue

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Gilia capitata grows in full sun on light, well-drained sandy or loamy soils and needs little water once growing. As a hardy annual it is sown from seed in autumn or early spring directly where it is to flower. It tolerates poor, dry soils and dislikes rich, wet ground and shade. No winter care applies in mild areas, where autumn-sown plants overwinter as small rosettes. It self-sows freely where soil stays open, returning each year. Thinning crowded seedlings improves flowering and airflow.

Pruning

Pruning is not used for this annual. Deadheading spent heads can extend bloom and limit self-seeding, while leaving late heads lets seed ripen and drop. Plants are cleared after they dry and die by midsummer.