Phacelia greenei
Scott valley phacelia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Phacelia greenei (Scott valley phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by serpentine endemic, wiry stems, entire leaves, rotate flowers diagnostic.
Scott valley phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges in serpentine soil openings within conifer forests at elevations of 800 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces violet to purple flower lobes with white to pale yellow tube centers in small, rotate blossoms. Growing 2 to 15 centimeters tall with generally erect, wiry stems that are sparsely short-glandular-hairy and sometimes branched at the base, it has a distinctive aromatic quality. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, 8 to 30 millimeters long, with proximal leaves being opposite to subopposite and tapering smoothly to the petiole. The fruit is a small, roughly spherical structure 3 to 4 millimeters long, containing 3 to 4 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species - serpentine endemic, wiry stems, entire leaves, rotate flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine soils, openings in conifer forest
Elevation: 800-1800 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity
Bloom period
Phacelia greenei blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 greenei native to California?
Yes. Phacelia greenei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia greenei bloom?
Phacelia greenei blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia greenei grow?
Phacelia greenei occurs in Siskiyou, Trinity, at elevations of 800-1800 m.
What plant family does Phacelia greenei belong to?
Phacelia greenei is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia greenei rare or endangered?
Phacelia greenei carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.