Gilia capitata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Alaska south to western U.S.A
Plant Profile: Gilia capitata
Taxonomy: Gilia capitataNames
Blue Gilia, Bluehead Gilia, Blue-head Gily-flower, Globe Gilia
Phonetic Spelling:
Genus:Gilia
Species:capitata
Family:Polemoniaceae
Globe Gilia is a dependable annual that thrives effortlessly, showcasing striking, globe-shaped light blue blooms from May to July. This resilient plant adapts well to various soil conditions, including dry, rocky, or sandy environments, and can tolerate partial shade, although it flourishes best in full sunlight with well-drained soil. Propagation is straightforward through seeds. Additionally, it serves as a fantastic pollinator-friendly plant, drawing in bees and butterflies.
Gilia capitata Feature Summary
Tags
#wildlife plant
#honey bees
#nectar plant
#blue flowers
#specialized bees
#gray-green leaves
#nectar plant late spring
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant early summer
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#meadows
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Gilia capitata Feature Summary
Attributes
Alaska south to western U.S.A
A nectar source for honey bees and sweat bees and Propertius duskywing butterfly (Erynnis propertius), and various skipper butterflies.
Annual
Flowers
Tiny light blue flowers with five petals and prominent stamens appear in puffball clusters 1" across May and can last until July long after many other spring blooming plants have finished.
Blue
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Dome
< 1 inch
Leaves
Gray green leaves are attractive and fernlike.
Green
Gray/Silver
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Alternate
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Annual
Wildflower
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Bees
Specialized Bees
Gilia capitata Image Gallery
Gilia capitata Attributes
Gilia capitata: Wildlife Value
A nectar source for honey bees and sweat bees and Propertius duskywing butterfly (Erynnis propertius), and various skipper butterflies.
Gilia capitata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Gilia capitata: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Gilia capitata Flowers
Gilia capitata: Flower Description
Tiny light blue flowers with five petals and prominent stamens appear in puffball clusters 1" across May and can last until July long after many other spring blooming plants have finished.
Gilia capitata: Flower Color
Blue
Gilia capitata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Gilia capitata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Gilia capitata: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Gilia capitata: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Gilia capitata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Gilia capitata Leaves
Gilia capitata: Leaf Description
Gray green leaves are attractive and fernlike.
Gilia capitata: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Gilia capitata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Gilia capitata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Gilia capitata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Gilia capitata Stem
Gilia capitata: Stem Description
Tall strong stems have flowers on the end.
Gilia capitata: Stem Color
Green
Gilia capitata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Gilia capitata Whole Plant Traits
Gilia capitata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Gilia capitata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Gilia capitata Cultural Conditions
Gilia capitata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Gilia capitata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Gilia capitata: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Gilia capitata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Gilia capitata Landscape
Gilia capitata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Gilia capitata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Gilia capitata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
