Phacelia

( fas - SEEL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering annuals, commonly known as Scorpionweed or Heliotrope, needs little to moderate water and full sun to perform well. These flowers will attract beneficial insects to your garden, and  are easy to grow. Flowers come in varying shades of blue, and bloom in springtime. Use Phacelia plants in mixed beds, borders, in container plantings, and as part of pollinator or native landscapes. Take care when planting these flowers in your garden, as all parts of the plant can cause an allergic rash to form on exposed skin.

Phacelia Species and Varietals

The genus Phacelia is a member of the plant family Boraginaceae and includes around 200 distinct species. The genus name is derived from the Greek word for 'cluster' or 'bundle', referring to the grouping of flowers. Phacelia grows best in zones 1-3 and 7-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Phacelia anelsonii (Aven Nelson's Phacelia)
These plants are native to Utah, Nevada, and California. They are typically found growing in scrub or woodland habitats, and the species is named for botanist Aven Nelson. These annual plants reach up to 20 inches tall when in bloom, and produce lavender-purple to white flowers in a coiling cyme.

Phacelia argentea (Sand Dune Phacelia, Silvery Phacelia)
This species is native to the coastline of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It prefers to grow in sandy habitats in coastal areas, and produces a 18-inch tall plant with white to cream-colored flowers. The common name for this species was given due to the silvery sheen of the foliage on these plants.

Phacelia bolanderi (Bolander's Phacelia, Bolander's Scorpionweed, Blue-Flowered Grape Leaf, Caterpillar Flower)
These plants are native to Oregon and California coastlines, named for California botanist Henry Nicholas Bolander. These plants bear attractive, purple-lavender-blue flowers and strongly toothed leaves that resemble those of Grape (Vitis). They are commonly in flower during the warmer months of summertime.

Phacelia californica (California Phacelia, California Scorpionweed)
These wildflowers, native to California and Oregon, typically are found growing in chaparral, woodland, coastal, and grassland habitats. They can be either decumbent or erect, and reach up to 35 inches at maturity. Leaves are up to 8 inches long, and flowers are white to pale blue or lavender. These are a great food source for the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly.

Phacelia campanularia (California Desert Bluebells, California Bluebell, Desert Scorpionweed, Desert Canterbury Bells, Desertbells)
This native to the California desert areas reaches 6-18 inches tall and wide, with coarse grey-green leaves. Springtime flowers are deep blue and bell-shaped and have white dots at the base of each petal.

Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar Phacelia, Caterpillar Scorpionweed)
Native to California, Nevada, and Baja California, these plants grow mainly in chaparral habitats (frequently in areas that have recently burned). These upright annuals reach between 2 feet tall and have deeply lobed foliage. They are sometimes cultivated as ornamentals in native, wildlife, and pollinator gardens, and are great drought-tolerant flowers.

Phacelia crenulata (Notch-Leaf Scorpion-Weed, Notch-Leaved Phacelia, Cleftleaf Windheliotrope, Heliotrope Phacelia)
These plants are native to the southwestern United States, and western-central South America. These aromatic plants reach up to 32 inches tall when in bloom, and flowers are dark purple to violet in color. Inflorescences are coiled, like the tail of a scorpion, hence the common name Scorpion Weed.

Phacelia dalesiana (Howellanthus dalesianus) (Scott Mountain Phacelia, Howell's Phacelia)
These plants produce a few decumbent stems that are glandular and hairy in texture, and reach up to 6 inches long when mature. Inflorescences are small and curving, holding white flowers that have purple streaking towards the throat. The common name for this plant honors the John Thomas Howell.

Phacelia divaricata (Divaricate Phacelia)
Endemic to California, where it grows in the hills and mountain ranges around the San Francisco Bay Area, these annual herbaceous plants produce green foliage. Leaves are oval and either lobed or smooth-edged. Flowers are pale lavender and are bell or funnel-shaped.

Phacelia minor (Whitlavia, Wild Canterbury Bells)
These plants are native to southern California and Baja California, and is an annual herbaceous plant that reaches between 8 and 24 inches tall when in bloom. One-sided inflorescences hold many bell-shaped deep blue to lavender or purple flowers with protruding stamens. Anthers are white. 

Phacelia purshii (Miami Mist, Scorpionweed, Purple Scorpionweed)
These plants are native to eastern and central North America, and reach between 12 and 18 inches tall when in bloom. Leaves are green and alternate, and flowers are light blue, violet, lavender, or almost white, with fringed lobes. Blooms are present on plants from April through June each year, and attract a bevy of pollinators.

Phacelia sericea (Silky Phacelia, Blue Alpine Phacelia, Purple Fringe)
These plants are native to subalpine and alpine elevations in western North America. The specific epithet sericea means 'silky', referring to the fine hairs on the leaves and stems of plants. Flowers are dark purple and have protruding stamens with yellow anthers. Individual plants reach about 2 feet tall when mature and in bloom.

Phacelia tanacetifolia (Lacy Phacelia, Tansy-Leaf Phacelia, Blue Tansy, Purple Tansy, Fiddleneck)
Native to northern Mexico as well as the deserts of southern California, this species reaches 1-4 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. The plants have fernlike leaves and flowers are lavender-blue and bloom in coiled clusters at stem tips. They are very attractive to bees and other insects.

Caring for Phacelia

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Phacelia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 497, Phacelia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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