Phacelia ciliata
Great valley phacelia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia ciliata (Great valley phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family.
Great valley phacelia is a California native annual herb found in southern North Coast Ranges, central Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehama County, Sutter Buttes, San Joaquin Valley, northern Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in clay or gravelly grassland slopes at elevations below 1,850 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces pale blue flowers with blue lobes in delicate funnel-shaped corollas approximately 8 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 10 to 55 centimeters tall that are generally simple or branched at the base and covered in short, glandular hairs. Its leaves are deeply lobed to compound, measuring 30 to 150 millimeters long, with oblong to ovate blades that have toothed or lobed segments. The fruit is approximately 4 to 5 millimeters long, nearly spherical, and covered in short hairs.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay or gravelly slopes in grassland, fields
Elevation: < 1850 m
California counties: Humboldt, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, San Benito, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Colusa, Merced, Fresno, Monterey, San Diego, Yolo, Riverside, Orange, Tulare, Inyo, San Francisco, Solano, San Bernardino
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia ciliata blooms Feb-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 ciliata native to California?
Yes. Phacelia ciliata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia ciliata bloom?
Phacelia ciliata blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia ciliata grow?
Phacelia ciliata occurs in Humboldt, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of < 1850 m.
What plant family does Phacelia ciliata belong to?
Phacelia ciliata is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia ciliata grow in?
Phacelia ciliata grows in Clay or gravelly slopes in grassland, fields.
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.