Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata
Cleftleaf wildheliotrope
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata (Cleftleaf wildheliotrope) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by corrugated seed margins and deeper style cleft diagnostic.
Cleftleaf wildheliotrope is a California native annual found in southeastern Mojave Mountains, southern Eastern Sierra Nevada, and eastern Mojave Desert in sandy to gravelly washes and slopes at elevations below 2,450 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces purple flowers with distinctive corolla lobes about 4.5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems that are consistently covered in stiff glandular hairs, it reaches heights typical of desert annuals. Its leaves are deeply crenulated, creating a distinctive textured appearance along the margins. The small ovoid fruits have corrugated seed margins, reflecting the plant's adaptation to harsh desert environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species - corrugated seed margins and deeper style cleft diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly washes, slopes
Elevation: < 2450 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Mono
Outside California: to Utah
Bloom period
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata blooms Mar-May.
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 crenulata var. crenulata native to California?
Yes. Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata bloom?
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata grow?
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Mono, at elevations of < 2450 m.
What plant family does Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata belong to?
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata grow in?
Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata grows in Sandy to gravelly washes, 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.