Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by tall central stem, dissected basal leaves, longitudinally pitted seeds diagnostic.
Phacelia heterophylla is a California native perennial herb found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, northern and central Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in slopes, flats, and roadsides at elevations of 100 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white to lavender bell-shaped flowers 4 to 7 millimeters long with prominent stamens. Growing with a central erect stem 20 to 120 centimeters tall and stiff-hairy lateral branches, it develops a weak, ascending habit. Its leaves are mostly basal, with blades 50 to 150 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate, and often deeply dissected into 5 to 9 segments with prominent veins. The fruit is a small ovoid structure 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, covered in stiff hairs and containing 1 to 3 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 58 sympatric species - tall central stem, dissected basal leaves, longitudinally pitted seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, flats, roadsides
Elevation: 100-2900 m
California counties: Butte, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono, Madera, Shasta, Glenn, Lassen, Plumas, Tehama, Placer, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming
Bloom period
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata blooms May-Sep.
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 heterophylla var. virgata native to California?
Yes. Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata bloom?
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata grow?
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata occurs in Butte, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Mono, Madera, Shasta, Glenn, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 100-2900 m.
What plant family does Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata belong to?
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata grow in?
Phacelia heterophylla var. virgata grows in Slopes, flats, roadsides.
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.