Flowers of the Southwest Deserts

by Natt N. Dodge

Gilia longiflora
Gilia filifolia

Common names: GILIA, STARFLOWER Arizona desert: (Gilia filifolia). Lavender. April-May. California desert: (Gilia latifolia). Pink-lavender. March-April. Texas desert: (Gilia longiflora). Blue-lavender. April-October. Phlox family. Size: 6 to 24 inches high.

Although the Gilias are not generally well known, they are common, quite widely distributed throughout the Southwest, and their beauty deserves wider recognition. There are a great many species (of which early flowering G. inconspicua is perhaps the commonest) at higher elevations as well as throughout the desert. Many of these are worthy of cultivation as ornamentals. Desert species, in general, are pale blue, white, or lavender while those of the higher elevations are pink, coral, or yellow to scarlet; although this is by no means a hard-and-fast rule.

Following winters of above-normal precipitation, desert species sometimes produce such heavy stands that the flowers cover large areas with a delicate pale blue or lavender carpet. Some species are attractive to Hummingbirds.

LAVENDER

Phacelia crenulata

Common names: PHACELIA, SCORPIONWEED, WILD-HELIOTROPE Arizona desert: (Phacelia crenulata). Violet-purple. February-June. California desert: (Phacelia distans). Blue-violet. March-May. Texas desert: (Phacelia coerulea). Violet-purple. March-April. Waterleaf family. Size: 4 to 16 inches tall.

Although strongly scented, it is not accurate to refer to these annuals as fragrant, for they are sometimes unpleasant in odor, and occasionally actually foul-smelling. Some are described as having an onion-like odor.