Phacelia anelsonii
Aven nelson's phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Phacelia anelsonii (Aven nelson's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by included stamens and crescent scales help distinguish from relatives.
Aven nelson's phacelia is a rare California native annual found in the eastern Desert Mountains, specifically the New York Mountains, in creosote-bush scrub and woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from late March to May, this plant produces delicate white, pale blue, or lavender flowers in widely bell-shaped corollas 5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short and stiff-glandular-hairy, it develops distinctive glandular stems with dark-colored glands. Its leaves are varied, with proximal leaves 15 to 80 millimeters long, deeply lobed and oblong to oblanceolate, while distal leaves are more ovate and toothed. The fruit is a small ovoid structure 2 to 3.5 millimeters long, bearing 2 to 4 seeds with intricately textured surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; included stamens and crescent scales help distinguish from relatives
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, creosote-bush scrub, woodland
Elevation: 1200-1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
Outside California: to southwestern Utah
Bloom period
Phacelia anelsonii blooms Late Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 anelsonii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia anelsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia anelsonii bloom?
Phacelia anelsonii blooms Late Mar-May.
Where in California does Phacelia anelsonii grow?
Phacelia anelsonii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, at elevations of 1200-1500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia anelsonii belong to?
Phacelia anelsonii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia anelsonii rare or endangered?
Phacelia anelsonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.