Bumbleseeds / Seeds

Globe Gilia - Bluehead Gilia (GILIA capitata) Blue Headed Gilly Flower Non GMO Heirloom Open Pollinated Flower

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Globe Gilia (GILIA capitata) Non GMO Heirloom Open Pollinated Flower

Annual (One of the easiest and most reliable showy annuals!)

Height 40 to 60 cm

Globe Gilia is a species of flowering plant in the Phlox family. When sown in the fall on well prepared soil (cleared of competing weeds), this species is a reliable and fast germinating colonizer. Globe Gilia is ideal for growing in flower beds or summer floral arrangements fully exposed to sun.

By May, it begins bursting upwards, and the plant develops long and magnificent white or light-blue globe shaped 1 to 2 in flowers on each plant. In normal years, these blooms can continue into July, after many other spring wildflowers start to fade, and continues well into September if conditions are right. Its visual appeal is endearing enough that globe gilia has been transported far and wide, even becoming a common garden plant in some European cities, although its native range is from Baja California to southern British Columbia. While it is increasingly rare in the Northwest, we are happy to offer it in Canada.

Globe gilia is very attractive to honey bees, and we also see great numbers of small ground-nesting sweat bees showing up on it, especially on warm mornings. The Propertius duskywing butterfly (Erynnis propertius), and various skipper butterflies are a few other insect visitors we’ve seen on this great plant.

Under natural conditions you would find this plant on poor quality soils such as dry gravel, sandy loam, or on dry sunny hillsides. That said it is adaptable to a broad range of soil conditions. Gilia tends to stay about knee-high, but in very rich soils it is known to climb to almost 5 feet in height!  Blue-head Gilly-flower is an excellent addition to your butterfly and pollinator garden.

  • Full sun
  • Soil well draining
  •  Direct sow the seeds in early Spring; press them slightly into the soil using a small board if possible, and water in lightly.
  • Plants prefer sunny positions in dry conditions; in terms of water, this variety is relatively little demanding and will also thrive in semi- to fully shaded positions.
  • Seed count: 1/8 gr