Phacelia congdonii
Congdon's phacelia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia congdonii (Congdon's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by entire leaves and basal arrangement diagnostic.
Congdon's phacelia is a California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, and eastern Western Transverse Ranges in open chaparral and oak/pine woodland areas at elevations of 600 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces lavender to violet flowers 6 to 10 millimeters long in funnel-shaped clusters. Growing with ascending to erect stems 5 to 35 centimeters tall, it develops simple or lightly branched stems with sparse short hairs. Its leaves are primarily basal, elliptic to ovate, ranging 10 to 50 millimeters long, with proximal leaves typically larger than distal leaves. The fruit is an ovoid structure 5 to 7 millimeters long, containing 6 to 12 small, pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; entire leaves and basal arrangement diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open areas, slopes, in chaparral, oak/pine woodland
Elevation: 600-2000 m
California counties: Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Alameda
Bloom period
Phacelia congdonii blooms Apr-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 congdonii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia congdonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia congdonii bloom?
Phacelia congdonii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia congdonii grow?
Phacelia congdonii occurs in Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Alameda, at elevations of 600-2000 m.
What plant family does Phacelia congdonii belong to?
Phacelia congdonii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia congdonii grow in?
Phacelia congdonii grows in Open areas, slopes, in chaparral, oak/pine 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.