Phacelia affinis
Limestone phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia affinis (Limestone phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by yellow tube with white-lavender lobes diagnostic.
Limestone phacelia is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Madre, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, and Desert regions in open, sandy or gravelly areas at elevations of 500 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to lavender flowers in small bell-shaped corollas 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing 6 to 30 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short-hairy and minutely glandular, it has an aromatic quality with spreading hairs. Its leaves are deeply lobed or compound, measuring 8 to 70 millimeters long, with narrowly oblong blades and entire lobes. The fruit is an oblong to ellipsoid structure 4 to 6 millimeters long, bearing 15 to 30 seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 72 sympatric species; yellow tube with white-lavender lobes diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy or gravelly areas
Elevation: 500-3400 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Mono, Kern, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to Utah, New Mexico, Sonora, Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia affinis blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Nemophila: Phacelia has flowers in coiled scorpion-tail clusters; Nemophila has solitary showy flowers at leaf axils.; vs Eucrypta: Phacelia is typically non-sticky with seeds that fall out cleanly; Eucrypta feels very sticky and retains 1-2 seeds in fruit.; vs Pholistoma: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters; Pholistoma has flowers scattered along stems with backward-pointing stem bristles.; vs Echium: Phacelia has coiled clusters of small flowers; Echium has large showy blue-purple flowers in tall spike-like clusters.; vs Gilia: Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and bristly foliage; Gilia has flowers in round heads or loose clusters with smoother foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phacelia affinis native to California?
Yes. Phacelia affinis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia affinis bloom?
Phacelia affinis blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia affinis grow?
Phacelia affinis occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 500-3400 m.
What plant family does Phacelia affinis belong to?
Phacelia affinis is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia affinis grow in?
Phacelia affinis grows in Open, sandy or gravelly areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.