About Gilia capitata Sims
Gilia capitata Sims is an annual herb with a variable appearance. It produces branching, leafy stems that reach a maximum height between 10 and 90 centimeters, and its fleshy above-ground growth sometimes bears glandular hairs. Its leaves are divided into toothed or lobed leaflets. Round clusters (inflorescences) holding 50 to 100 small flowers grow at the tips of the thick stems. Each flower has a throat that opens into a flat-spreading corolla, which can be white, pink, lavender, or light blue. Stamens stick out slightly from the flower's opening; the stamens are white, and their anthers may be white, blue, or pink. This plant attracts bees and butterflies. It is native to most of western North America, ranging from Alaska to northern Mexico, and occurs as an introduced species on the eastern side of the continent where it is commonly planted in pollinator gardens. It grows in a wide range of habitats, and is particularly associated with sandy or rocky soils.
