# Bird's-Eye Gilia (*gilia tricolor*) The Bird'S-Eye Gilia is a beautiful wildflower that can make anyone smile with its bright colors! It attracts many butterflies and bees, making gardens come alive in springtime. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Sunny meadows and grasslands - **Also known as:** Blue Gilia, Gilia tricolor, Tricolor Gilia ![Bird's-Eye Gilia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gilia_tricolor.jpg&width=800) Photo: Yasuo Kida from Palo Alto, United States of America, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gilia_tricolor.jpg) ## Appearance The Bird'S-Eye Gilia has delicate, cup-shaped flowers typically displaying shades of blue, purple, or white. Each bloom features a striking yellow throat encircled by dark purple or black spots, creating a distinct 'bird's eye' pattern. These colorful markings make it visually unique among wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Gilia ## Interesting facts - Bird'S-Eye Gilia lives for just one year, but it produces hundreds of seeds for the next season! - Each tiny flower has a distinctive dark spot, making it look just like a real bird's eye! - Its scientific name 'tricolor' means 'three colors' because its flowers often show three hues! - This amazing plant can bloom so thickly that fields look like carpets of colorful stars! ## Special abilities - **Fragrance Flare:** Bird'S-Eye Gilia releases a sweet, noticeable fragrance that helps it attract pollinating insects from a distance. - **Targeted Landing:** Bird'S-Eye Gilia has contrasting color patterns on its petals, guiding insects directly to the nectar and pollen. - **Seed Bomb:** Bird'S-Eye Gilia produces numerous tiny seeds that scatter easily, helping it quickly spread to new areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_early_summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen for its colony. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, helping to spread pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bird's-Eye Gilia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Bird's-Eye Gilia? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Bird's-Eye Gilia? 1-2 cm ### When does Bird's-Eye Gilia bloom? Spring_to_early_summer ### Is Bird's-Eye Gilia edible? No ### Is Bird's-Eye Gilia toxic? None ### What is Bird's-Eye Gilia's lifecycle? Annual ### How is Bird's-Eye Gilia pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Bertrand F. Harrison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bertrand-f-harrison-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden - [Provo City Library](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/provo-city-library) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Cat Tales Wildlife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cat-tales-wildlife-center) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Serra Mesa Community Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/serra-mesa-community-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Bird's-Eye Gilia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/birds-eye-gilia) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bird's-Eye Gilia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birds-eye-gilia)