Starry Gilia Plant Care
Gilia stellata A.Heller
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Gilia stellata is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name star gilia. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it is a common resident of desert washes and sandy mountain slopes.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Starry Gilia?
Starry Gilia grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Starry Gilia Native To?
What Is the Starry Gilia?
Starry Gilia (Gilia stellata) belongs to the Polemoniaceae family within the Gilia genus. Starry Gilia is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Starry Gilia displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Starry Gilia produces small, tubular flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white.
What Light Does the Starry Gilia Need?
Starry Gilia thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Starry Gilia?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Starry Gilia to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Starry Gilia?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Starry Gilia?
Starry Gilia can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to gilia plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Starry Gilia Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Starry Gilia, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Starry Gilia?
Starry Gilia is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Starry Gilia is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Gilia genus — compare its care with other Gilia species on PlantoScan.
Gilia is part of the Polemoniaceae plant family — browse all Polemoniaceae genera and species.
Starry Gilia thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Gilia Species
Other Gilia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Gilia stellata A.Heller, family Polemoniaceae (first published in Muhlenbergia 2: 117 (1906)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Starry Gilia, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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