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Gilia tricolor

bird's-eye gilia

Polemoniaceae California and southern Oregon

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Gilia tricolor is an annual wildflower growing 4-20 inches (10-50 cm) tall on slender, branching stems. The lower leaves are finely divided into narrow segments 0.5-1.5 inches (1-4 cm) long, forming a loose basal cluster that thins toward the upper stem. Flowers are funnel-shaped, about 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) across, carried singly or in small clusters at the branch tips. Each flower shows three colour zones: pale violet to lavender outer lobes, a yellow throat, and five dark purple to maroon marks ringing the throat opening, with blue pollen on the anthers. Plants flower from March to May in their native range and self-sow where soil is left undisturbed. The species germinates with autumn and winter rains, growing as a low rosette before flowering in spring. It occupies open grassland, valley floors, and foothill slopes below 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The flowers carry a scent often compared to chocolate, strongest on warm afternoons. A limitation in the garden is its short life: plants complete their cycle and die by early summer, leaving gaps unless reseeding is allowed.

Native Range

Gilia tricolor is native to California, where it grows in the Central Valley, surrounding foothills, and inner Coast Ranges. Its range extends into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and parts of southern Oregon.

Suggested Uses

Used in wildflower meadows, native plant gardens, and seed mixes for spring colour. Suited to rock gardens and the front of borders, spaced 6-9 inches (15-23 cm) apart. The nectar and pollen draw native bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies.

How to Identify

Identified by funnel-shaped flowers with three colour bands: lavender lobes, a yellow throat, and a ring of dark purple spots at the throat, set off by blue pollen. The finely dissected lower leaves and slender, freely branching stems separate it from larger-flowered Gilia spp. species. Crushed foliage and flowers carry a sweet, chocolate-like scent.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'8"

Width/Spread4" - 8"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring

Flowers open from March through May, peaking in April across most of the native range. Bloom begins earlier in warm lowland sites and later at higher elevations. Individual plants flower for several weeks before setting seed and dying back.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

lavender with yellow throat and purple markings

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

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Gilia tricolor grows in full sun and sandy, loam, or gravelly soils with sharp drainage. Seed is sown in autumn where winter rains germinate it, or in early spring in colder regions; growth is strongest in cool weather and declines in summer heat. Plants need little supplemental water once rains establish them and tolerate seasonal drought as they mature. Overly rich or wet soil produces lank growth and fewer flowers. The species reseeds freely, returning each year from self-sown seed where the ground is not heavily cultivated.

Pruning

No pruning is required. Spent plants can be pulled once seed has set, though leaving them in place allows self-sowing for the following season. Light shearing after the first flush sometimes prolongs flowering in cool conditions.