Phacelia glandulifera
Sticky phacelia
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia glandulifera (Sticky phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by dark glands, yellow tube/blue lobes diagnostic.
Sticky phacelia is a California native annual found in the Cascade Range and Great Basin in scrub and juniper woodland at elevations of 800 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces blue to lavender flowers with pale yellow tube up to 7 millimeters long in open clusters. Growing with erect, aromatic stems 5 to 25 centimeters tall that are short-hairy with dark glands, it has a delicate branching habit. Its leaves are deeply lobed to compound, ranging 10 to 50 millimeters long, with oblong to oblanceolate blades having obtuse or toothed segments. The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule 4 to 5.5 millimeters long, bearing 7 to 14 small seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species - dark glands, yellow tube/blue lobes diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally sandy soils, scrub, juniper woodland
Elevation: 800-2500 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou
Outside California: to eastern Washington, Wyoming
Bloom period
Phacelia glandulifera blooms May-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 glandulifera native to California?
Yes. Phacelia glandulifera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia glandulifera bloom?
Phacelia glandulifera blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia glandulifera grow?
Phacelia glandulifera occurs in Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, at elevations of 800-2500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia glandulifera belong to?
Phacelia glandulifera is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia glandulifera grow in?
Phacelia glandulifera grows in Generally sandy soils, scrub, juniper 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.