Bird’s Eye – Gilia tricolor

Description

Bird’s Eye Gilia or Gilia tricolor, is a wildflower species native to California and has moved into other western states.  A member of the Phlox ( Polemoniaceae) family, this species prefers full sun and dry soils but is very adaptable.  this low-growing annual has a few or single, beautiful, tube-shaped flowers on taller stalks above feathery leaves.  The tubular, 5-petal flowers are lavender at the tips, fading to golden towards the throat with a ring of deep violet toward the center.  Hummingbirds and bees love this sweetly fragrant, early-summer bloomer.  Vast displays of these cover meadows and grassy plains in the late spring.  This is a great flower for cut arrangements and for dried arrangements.  

Color: Lavender/White
Height: 12-18
Type: Annual
Climate: Sun-Dry
Seeds/lb.: 1,000,000
Rate:  1oz./400 sq.ft.
Bloom time: Spring-Summer
Zone: 7b-10a

Seeding:  Sow directly into garden soil after all danger of frost is past.  Keep moist until germination.  Bird’s Eye Gilia will self-sow from dried seed heads in the fall.