Phacelia humilis var. humilis
Low phacelia
Photo: parent species Phacelia humilis · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia humilis var. humilis (Low phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by var. dudleyi by flower size and stamen exsertion.
Low phacelia is a California native annual herb found on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and in the Great Basin in meadows and flats at elevations of 1,500 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this delicate plant produces small white to lavender flowers with stamens slightly extending beyond the petals. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in open grassland areas. Its leaves are divided into narrow, elongated segments, creating a lacy, feathery appearance typical of phacelia species. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 3.5 millimeters long, with seeds nestled within delicate, finely textured calyces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; distinguished from var. dudleyi by flower size and stamen exsertion
Habitat and range
Habitat: Flats, meadows
Elevation: 1500-2800 m
California counties: Sierra, Tulare, Plumas, Yuba, Placer, Alpine, Mono, Lassen, Modoc, Mariposa, Trinity, Shasta, El Dorado, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, Inyo, San Francisco, Nevada, Solano, Kern
Outside California: central Washington, southeastern Oregon, northwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Phacelia humilis var. humilis blooms May-Jul.
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 humilis var. humilis native to California?
Yes. Phacelia humilis var. humilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia humilis var. humilis bloom?
Phacelia humilis var. humilis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia humilis var. humilis grow?
Phacelia humilis var. humilis occurs in Sierra, Tulare, Plumas, Yuba, Placer, Alpine, Mono, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 1500-2800 m.
What plant family does Phacelia humilis var. humilis belong to?
Phacelia humilis var. humilis is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia humilis var. humilis grow in?
Phacelia humilis var. humilis grows in Flats, meadows.
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.