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Bird's Eyes Seeds

Gilia tricolor

5.00 (3 reviews)
  • HOW TO GROW
  • FAST FACTS
  • REVIEWS

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Direct sow in late fall, planting just below the surface. For spring planting, mix the seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 30 days; direct sow. To start indoors, sow Bird's Eye seeds in a flat or individual peat pots 6-8 weeks before the last frost; keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees F until germination, which usually occurs within two weeks. When the weather has warmed and the seedlings are well established, transplant outdoors.

Growing: Keep the soil moist as the seedlings develop, which will happen rather slowly at first. Mature plants tolerate drought well, preferring hot and dry conditions; do not overwater, since this can cause disease. This plant adapts well to areas with rocky or sandy soil. It will self-sow, and is extremely attractive to butterflies and bees.

Harvesting: For fresh flowers, cut long stems of flowers that have just opened and place them in water immediately; strip the leaves that will fall below the water.

Seed Saving: After blooming, the flowers will become dry capsules that open to reveal several brown seeds; cut the ripened heads or simply shake the entire plant over a container to remove the Gilia Tricolor seeds. Store the cleaned Bird's Eye seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Common Names: Bird's Eyes Gilia

Latin Name: Gilia tricolor

Species Origin: US Native Wildflower

Type: Native Wildflowers

Life Cycle: Annual

USDA Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

US Regions: California, Mountain, Arid/Desert, Plains/Texas, Midwest, Northern, Northeast, Southeast

Seeds per Ounce: 65,000

Stratification: No Stratification

Germination Ease: No Stratification

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 16 Inches

Color: White, Pink

Bloom Season: Blooms Late Spring, Blooms Early Summer

Bird's Eyes Seeds 5.0
Review By Nancy

Lovely small flowers with a beautiful color

I have grown these for years and love to order my seeds from Everwilde Farms. Always have great success getting them to come up and bloom. Very easy to grow and works wonderfully for pressing.

Bird's Eyes Seeds 5.0
Review By Karen Bare

Came in time for planting despite my tardiness!

I'm not reviewing the seeds now, as they won't be planted here before snowmelt. However, I love the packaging, the photos on the packets, and the planting instructions on the back. I especially like the zip closures! If they germ well, they will be a good value, seed per dollar. They arrived surprisingly quickly considering all the seed websites are claiming COVID-19 delays. Thank you!

Bird's Eyes Seeds 5.0
Review By Bonnie B

Hard to find these seeds

I'm saving them in my fridge for 2021 planting. Hard to find these seeds, hope they look as wonderful as the photo, thanks.

Size Price Quantity
XL Mylar Packet (~2,000 Seeds) $2.98 -+
1 Oz Mylar (~65,000 Seeds) $9.54 -+
1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $21.46 -+
1 Lb Mylar (454g) $69.00 -+
5 Lb Bulk Bag (2.27kg) $310.50 -+
10 Lb Bulk Bag (4.54kg) $552.00 -+
25 Lb Bulk Bag (11.3kg) $1,311.00 Notify Me
50 Lb Bulk Bag (22.7kg) $2,484.00 Notify Me
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DESCRIPTION

Lavender and white with golden throats, these delightful little flowers are sure to please. Bird's Eyes are native to California but can be grown as an annual in harsher climates as well. Their sweet chocolate-like scent is also a magnet for hummingbirds.
The Gilia genus contains mostly desert-loving plants, native to the area stretching from the western United States to South America. Spanish botanists Hipolito Ruiz and Jose Antonio Pavon found the first known Gilia species on their expedition to South America, later detailing it among other species in a 1794 publication of their research from Peru and Chile. They gave this family of flowers the name Gilia in honor of Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756-1821), an Italian naturalist whom they greatly admired for his research in South American native plant life at the Vatican Observatory.

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Direct sow in late fall, planting just below the surface. For spring planting, mix the seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 30 days; direct sow. To start indoors, sow Bird's Eye seeds in a flat or individual peat pots 6-8 weeks before the last frost; keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees F until germination, which usually occurs within two weeks. When the weather has warmed and the seedlings are well established, transplant outdoors.

Growing: Keep the soil moist as the seedlings develop, which will happen rather slowly at first. Mature plants tolerate drought well, preferring hot and dry conditions; do not overwater, since this can cause disease. This plant adapts well to areas with rocky or sandy soil. It will self-sow, and is extremely attractive to butterflies and bees.

Harvesting: For fresh flowers, cut long stems of flowers that have just opened and place them in water immediately; strip the leaves that will fall below the water.

Seed Saving: After blooming, the flowers will become dry capsules that open to reveal several brown seeds; cut the ripened heads or simply shake the entire plant over a container to remove the Gilia Tricolor seeds. Store the cleaned Bird's Eye seeds in a cool, dry place.

FAST FACTS

Common Names: Bird's Eyes Gilia

Latin Name: Gilia tricolor

Species Origin: US Native Wildflower

Type: Native Wildflowers

Life Cycle: Annual

USDA Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

US Regions: California, Mountain, Arid/Desert, Plains/Texas, Midwest, Northern, Northeast, Southeast

Seeds per Ounce: 65,000

Stratification: No Stratification

Germination Ease: No Stratification

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 16 Inches

Color: White, Pink

Bloom Season: Blooms Late Spring, Blooms Early Summer

Reviews

5.00
Global Rating: 5.00 from 3 reviews
5.0

Review By Nancy

Lovely small flowers with a beautiful color

I have grown these for years and love to order my seeds from Everwilde Farms. Always have great success getting them to come up and bloom. Very easy to grow and works wonderfully for pressing.

5.0

Review By Karen Bare

Came in time for planting despite my tardiness!

I'm not reviewing the seeds now, as they won't be planted here before snowmelt. However, I love the packaging, the photos on the packets, and the planting instructions on the back. I especially like the zip closures! If they germ well, they will be a good value, seed per dollar. They arrived surprisingly quickly considering all the seed websites are claiming COVID-19 delays. Thank you!

5.0

Review By Bonnie B

Hard to find these seeds

I'm saving them in my fridge for 2021 planting. Hard to find these seeds, hope they look as wonderful as the photo, thanks.