Phacelia marcescens
Marcescent phacelia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia marcescens (Marcescent phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by NONE sympatric - geographically isolated; marcescent flowers distinctive.
Marcescent phacelia is a California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada in sandy to gravelly soils of meadows and conifer forest at elevations of 1,300 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces purple to violet bell-shaped flowers 4 to 5 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short glandular-hairy and sometimes branched, it has an aromatic quality. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, with proximal-most leaves up to 50 millimeters long, sometimes slightly lobed at the base and varying in size. The fruit is small, ovoid, and slightly compressed, bearing 1 to 2 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE sympatric - geographically isolated; marcescent flowers distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly soils, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 1300-2600 m
California counties: Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Yolo
Bloom period
Phacelia marcescens blooms Jun-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 marcescens native to California?
Yes. Phacelia marcescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia marcescens bloom?
Phacelia marcescens blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia marcescens grow?
Phacelia marcescens occurs in Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Yolo, at elevations of 1300-2600 m.
What plant family does Phacelia marcescens belong to?
Phacelia marcescens is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia marcescens grow in?
Phacelia marcescens grows in Sandy to gravelly soils, meadows, conifer forest.
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.