Phacelia breweri
Brewer's phacelia
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia breweri (Brewer's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by opposite basal leaves and large seeds diagnostic.
Brewer's phacelia is a California native annual herb found in eastern San Francisco Bay and northern Santa Cruz Mountains in chaparral, talus, and rocky slopes at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces light blue flowers approximately 4 to 6 millimeters long in bell-shaped corollas. Growing with spreading to ascending stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall that are many-branched and covered in short stiff hairs, it has a delicate, branching structure. Its leaves are variable, with lower leaves up to 40 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate, and partially lobed, while upper leaves tend to be entire or slightly lobed. The small fruit is ovoid, short-stiff-hairy, and contains one to two finely pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; opposite basal leaves and large seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, talus, rocky soils, slopes
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Santa Clara, San Benito, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Alameda, Merced, San Bernardino, Fresno, Monterey, El Dorado
Bloom period
Phacelia breweri 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 breweri native to California?
Yes. Phacelia breweri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia breweri bloom?
Phacelia breweri blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia breweri grow?
Phacelia breweri occurs in Santa Clara, San Benito, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Alameda, Merced, San Bernardino, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Phacelia breweri belong to?
Phacelia breweri is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia breweri grow in?
Phacelia breweri grows in Chaparral, talus, rocky soils, slopes.
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.