Gilia tricolor, Gilia Bird's Eye seed
Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor) is a charming annual wildflower native to California and parts of the western United States. It is known for its unique, eye-catching blooms featuring soft lavender petals, a yellow throat, and a dark purple center — giving it the name “Bird’s Eye.”
This flower thrives in full sun but can tolerate light partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil with average nutrient levels and performs well even in sandy or rocky soils, making it ideal for wildflower meadows and low-maintenance gardens. Bird’s Eye Gilia is adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions and is more cold-tolerant than many other annuals.Seeds should be sown directly into the ground, as Gilia does not transplant well due to its delicate root system. It’s best to sow seeds outdoors in cooler climates, either in early spring or in the fall in USDA zones 7 through 10. Fall planting allows for earlier germination and flowering in areas with mild winters.
Bird’s Eye Gilia is a valuable pollinator plant, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. It typically grows 12 to 18 inches tall and blooms from late spring into early summer, providing a vibrant burst of color in naturalized areas, borders, or container plantings. Covers 5 sq ft.
How to Use Your Cover Crop & Native Seed Packets
Each seed packet is measured to cover 25 sq ft or 100 sq ft, depending on the size you chose.
Sowing Instructions
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When to sow: Fall is ideal in Portland. The soil is still warm for germination, and fall rains keep seedlings watered. Some seeds (like meadowfoam or clovers) can also be spring-sown.
How to sow:
- Rake the soil lightly to create good seed-to-soil contact.
- Scatter the contents of the packet evenly over the area (don’t worry about perfect spacing).
- Gently press or rake seeds in so they make contact with the soil. Do not bury deeply — most native and cover crop seeds need light to germinate.
- Water: Fall rains usually do the job, but water lightly if the weather turns dry.
What to Expect
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Traditional Cover Crops (rye, peas, fava, daikon, crimson clover, buckwheat, mustard): Grow quickly, protect soil, and build fertility. In spring, chop them down or mow before they set seed. Some (like rye) can also be crimped into a mulch.
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Living Mulches (red fescue, dwarf yarrow, creeping thyme, low clovers): These stay low and provide long-term weed suppression and ground cover. Shear lightly as needed, but they don’t require replanting every year.
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Pollinator Wildflowers (Clarkia, poppy, gilia, flax, meadowfoam, coneflower, blanketflower): Not classic cover crops, but they add beauty and attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Many reseed naturally.
Spring & Summer Management
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Chop-and-drop: Cut plants at the base and leave them as mulch (peas, fava, clovers).
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Mow: Use on ryegrass or cereals to turn them into quick mulch.
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Crimp: Flatten tall rye or grains at flowering to create a long-lasting weed barrier.
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Shear perennials: Yarrow, thyme, and sedges can be trimmed back after bloom.
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Self-seeders: Flowers like poppy, clarkia, and meadowfoam will often reseed themselves. Leave some seed heads if you want them back next year.
Quick Tips
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Cover crops = soil builders.
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Living mulches = weed suppressors.
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Wildflowers = pollinator magnets.
Tulle or row cover can protect young seedlings from birds and slugs until established.
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