Phacelia californica
California phacelia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia californica (California phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and coastal distribution.
California phacelia is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, central coastal, and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in bluffs, open slopes, road cuts, chaparral, and woodland at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces blue to lavender (occasionally white) bell-shaped flowers 4 to 7 millimeters long with a limb 4 to 6 millimeters in diameter. Growing 15 to 90 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems that are densely covered in stiff hairs, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are mostly basal with compound blades 50 to 200 millimeters long, typically containing 3 to 7 leaflets, with prominent veins that are deeply impressed into the leaf surface. The fruit is a narrow, stiff-hairy structure 3 to 4 millimeters long, containing 1 to 2 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; perennial habit and coastal distribution help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Bluffs, open slopes, road cuts, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Napa, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Tulare, Plumas, Fresno, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Sutter, El Dorado, Nevada
Bloom period
Phacelia californica blooms Mar-Sep.
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 californica native to California?
Yes. Phacelia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia californica bloom?
Phacelia californica blooms Mar-Sep.
Where in California does Phacelia californica grow?
Phacelia californica occurs in Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Napa, San Mateo, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Phacelia californica belong to?
Phacelia californica is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia californica grow in?
Phacelia californica grows in Bluffs, open slopes, road cuts, chaparral, woodland.
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.