Phacelia barnebyana
Barneby's phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Phacelia barnebyana (Barneby's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by unique to Clark Mountain Range limestone habitat.
Barneby's phacelia is a rare California native annual found in the western and eastern desert mountains, particularly the Clark Mountain Range, in limestone scree at elevations of 1,600 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale violet flowers in narrow bell-shaped corollas with white to yellow tubes, approximately 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with erect stems that are simple to slightly branched at the base and covered in minute glandular hairs, it has an aromatic quality. Its leaves are generally ovate, 5 to 20 millimeters long, with blades smaller than their petioles and edges that are entire to obscurely toothed. The fruit is an ellipsoid structure 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters long, containing 15 to 20 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; unique to Clark Mountain Range limestone habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone scree
Elevation: 1600-2700 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Phacelia barnebyana blooms May-Jul.
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 barnebyana native to California?
Yes. Phacelia barnebyana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia barnebyana bloom?
Phacelia barnebyana blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Phacelia barnebyana belong to?
Phacelia barnebyana is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia barnebyana rare or endangered?
Phacelia barnebyana carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Phacelia barnebyana grow in?
Phacelia barnebyana grows in Limestone scree.
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.