Family: Polemoniaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Gilia tricolor, commonly known as bird’s eyes, is a small annual wildflower native to California. It produces delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually blue with white centers and a yellow throat, giving the appearance of “bird’s eyes.” This low-growing plant is often used in gardens, wildflower meadows, and native plant landscapes for its colorful blooms and ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun and is appreciated for its easy maintenance and early-season flowers.

Risks & Threats
Gilia tricolor is considered a low-risk species and does not show tendencies to aggressively spread beyond cultivated areas. It poses minimal threat to native ecosystems in Hawaii and is unlikely to become invasive. Gardeners can safely enjoy this plant as part of pollinator-friendly or ornamental plantings without concern for ecological disruption.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, and can grow in >5 hardiness zones demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Naturalized outside native range
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Able to reach maturity in <1 year (annual herb)
  
• Seeds dispersed passively by dehiscence and intentionally by people
  
• Small seeds could possibly be accidentally dispersed
  
• Seeds able to be stored for extended periods and show dormancy. May form a persistent seed bank
  
• Limited ecological information, particularly on dispersal vectors, makes accurate risk prediction difficult

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite naturalization, no reports of negative impacts documented
  
• Mediterranean to temperate climate species (may only become established at higher elevations in the tropics)
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• No reports of toxicity
  
• Ornamental
  
• Beneficial to bees and other pollinators
  
• Not reported to hybridize with other Gilia species
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively