Phacelia lemmonii
Lemmon's phacelia
(c) Dominic Gentilcore, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dominic Gentilcore · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia lemmonii (Lemmon's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by numerous tiny seeds and yellow-white flowers distinctive.
Lemmon's phacelia is a California native annual found in northeastern Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada East, Mojave Desert, and northern Colorado Desert in sandy washes, drying streambanks, and slopes at elevations of 300 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white to lavender flowers in narrowly bell-shaped corollas 4 to 6 millimeters long with yellow flower tubes. Growing 7 to 20 centimeters tall with generally erect stems that are simple to branched at the base and minutely glandular-hairy. Its leaves are 10 to 40 millimeters long, ovate, gradually reduced up the stem, with toothed to slightly obtusely lobed blades. The fruit is 3 to 4 millimeters long and contains 30 to 80 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; numerous tiny seeds and yellow-white flowers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy washes, drying streambanks, slopes
Elevation: 300-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Los Angeles, Kern, Alameda
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Phacelia lemmonii blooms Mar-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 lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia lemmonii bloom?
Phacelia lemmonii blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia lemmonii grow?
Phacelia lemmonii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Los Angeles, Kern, Alameda, at elevations of 300-2300 m.
What plant family does Phacelia lemmonii belong to?
Phacelia lemmonii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia lemmonii grow in?
Phacelia lemmonii grows in Sandy washes, drying streambanks, slopes.
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.