Phacelia lyonii
Lyon's phacelia
(c) Cayman Lanzone, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Phacelia lyonii (Lyon's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by large size and Channel Islands habitat distinctive.
Lyon's phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Channel Islands (excluding Santa Barbara Island) on rocky slopes and canyons at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces blue to white bell-shaped flowers 5 to 7 millimeters long with distinctive purple stamens. Growing 30 to 120 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short-stiff-hairy and occasionally branched, it has an aromatic quality. Its leaves are densely glandular, generally over 40 millimeters long, with ovate blades deeply lobed or compound and segments that are crenate to finely divided. The fruit is 5 to 7 millimeters long and slightly oblong, containing 7 to 40 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; large size and Channel Islands habitat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, canyons
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego
Bloom period
Phacelia lyonii blooms Apr-Oct.
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 lyonii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia lyonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia lyonii bloom?
Phacelia lyonii blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Phacelia lyonii grow?
Phacelia lyonii occurs in Los Angeles, San Diego, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia lyonii belong to?
Phacelia lyonii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia lyonii rare or endangered?
Phacelia lyonii 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 · 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.