Globe Gilia is an easy-to-grow annual herb in the phlox family that is native to much of the western USA from Alaska to northern Mexico. It has been introduced to the eastern USA. The plant can vary in appearance depending on where it is growing as there are several subspecies. It can reach anywhere from 6 to 35 inches in height but generally up to 2 feet tall. The showy globe-shaped light blue to blue-violet flowers occur from May-July and rise above the fern-like leaves. The plant withstands many soil types but prefers dry, rocky or sandy soils in full sun. It will tolerate clay soil but needs good drainage and partial shade. It propagates easily by seeds. This is an excellent pollinator plant attracting bees and butterflies to its abundant nectar. Use this plant in a drought-tolerant garden, a rock garden, a border, a pollinator garden or a cottage-type garden. Because it will self-seed it can be utilized in naturalized areas or meadows but doesn't do well with a lot of competition. Deadhead after blooming and you may get repeat blooms. Do not overwater. Left on its own the plant will bloom and then die down during the heat of summer and set seed for next spring. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Gray-green leaves are finely dissected and composed of linear leaflets with hairs. They are basal and grow up the stem getting smaller as they ascend.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
50-100 tiny light blue to blue-violet tubular flowers with five petals and prominent stamens appear in puffball clusters 1" across. Can bloom May through July with deadheading. Lighly scented.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Capsules contain up to 3 seeds each
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Tall strong stems are glabrous to glandular and many branched.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Alaska south to western U.S.A
Wildlife value
A nectar source for bees and all butterflies
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#nectar plant early summer #nectar plant #nectar plant mid-summer #specialized bees #honey bees #nectar plant late spring #butterfly friendly #gray-green leaves #blue flowers #wilson mg plant sale 2021 #sandy soils tolerant #rocky soils tolerant #rock garden #pollinator garden #drought tolerant #summer flowers #annual herb #cottage garden #wildlife friendly #meadow