Phacelia distans
Common phacelia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia distans (Common phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by most widespread, variable flower color, 1-2 large seeds diagnostic.
Common phacelia is a native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, northern and southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern Sierra Nevada, Sutter Buttes, San Joaquin Valley, Central West, Southwest, eastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert regions in clay to rocky soils and slopes at elevations below 2,700 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces blue or white flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long, with distinctive dark lavender spots in the throat when blue and no spots when white. Growing 5 to 80 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems that are simple or branched at the base, the plant has a sparse, glandular hairiness. Its leaves are 20 to 100 millimeters long, typically 1 to 2 times compound with toothed segments. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 3.1 millimeters long, nearly spherical to oblong and slightly puberulent.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 106 sympatric species - most widespread, variable flower color, 1-2 large seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Clay to rocky soils, slopes
Elevation: < 2700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Inyo, Sonoma, Imperial, Santa Barbara, Orange, Monterey, San Mateo, Marin, San Benito, Stanislaus, San Francisco, Solano, Merced, Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Sutter, Mendocino, San Joaquin, Colusa, Tulare, Shasta, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Butte, Tehama, Glenn, Madera, Kings, Mono
Outside California: southern Nevada, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Phacelia distans 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 distans native to California?
Yes. Phacelia distans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia distans bloom?
Phacelia distans blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Phacelia distans grow?
Phacelia distans occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of < 2700 m.
What plant family does Phacelia distans belong to?
Phacelia distans is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia distans grow in?
Phacelia distans grows in Common. Clay to rocky soils, 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.