Phacelia grandiflora
Giant flowered phacelia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia grandiflora (Giant flowered phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by largest flowers in genus, very many tiny seeds diagnostic.
Giant flowered phacelia is a California native annual found in southern California coastal areas, Channel Islands, southern slopes of the Transverse Ranges, southern Sierra Glacial Basin, and western Peninsular Ranges in open, sandy chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats at elevations below 1,150 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to white flowers with a distinctive lavender-spotted white throat, measuring 25 to 40 millimeters in diameter. Growing with erect, coarse stems 30 to 200 centimeters tall that are sparsely stiff-hairy and glandular, it spreads with simple or branched upper stems. Its leaves are widely ovate to nearly round, measuring 30 to 200 millimeters long with irregular tooth edges. The fruit is an ovoid structure 8 to 14 millimeters long, containing 80 to 120 small, shallowly pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species - largest flowers in genus, very many tiny seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy, +- moist areas, chaparral and coastal-sage scrub, often in washes or burns
Elevation: < 1150 m
California counties: San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, Fresno, San Bernardino, Alameda, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia grandiflora 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 grandiflora native to California?
Yes. Phacelia grandiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia grandiflora bloom?
Phacelia grandiflora blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia grandiflora grow?
Phacelia grandiflora occurs in San Diego, Ventura, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of < 1150 m.
What plant family does Phacelia grandiflora belong to?
Phacelia grandiflora is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia grandiflora grow in?
Phacelia grandiflora grows in Open, sandy, +- moist areas, chaparral and coastal-sage scrub, often in washes or burns.
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.