Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora
Cleftleaf wildheliotrope
(c) Eric Knight, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Knight · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora (Cleftleaf wildheliotrope) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by very small 4mm corollas diagnostic.
Cleftleaf wildheliotrope is a California native annual found in the southern desert regions in sandy to gravelly washes and slopes at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces lavender to blue flowers with white throats, approximately 4 millimeters long. Growing 15 to 45 centimeters tall with stems densely covered in stiff hairs and becoming glandular toward the top, it has a distinctive hairy appearance. Its leaves are characterized by finely crenulated edges, contributing to its descriptive common name. The fruit is nearly spherical, about 3 millimeters in size, with seeds having a slightly corrugated or smooth margin.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species - very small 4mm corollas diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly washes, slopes
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Inyo
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora blooms Mar-Apr.
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. minutiflora native to California?
Yes. Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora bloom?
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora grow?
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora occurs in Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Inyo, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora belong to?
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora grow in?
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora 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.