Phacelia minor
Wild canterbury bells, Wild Canterbury Bells
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia minor (Wild canterbury bells) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by very large flowers and perennial habit distinctive.
Wild canterbury bells is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal areas, eastern Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel and San Bernardno Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and western Colorado Desert in exposed slopes, coastal-sage scrub, and desert canyons at elevations below 1,850 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces purple (occasionally white) bell-shaped flowers 10 to 40 millimeters long with distinctive purple stamens and hairy wings. Growing with erect or reclining stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall, the plant has sparse stiff and short glandular hairs along its branches. Its leaves are 20 to 110 millimeters long, ovate to nearly round, with irregular tooth-like edges that are typically shorter than their supporting stem. The fruit is rounded at the base, 7 to 13 millimeters long, and covered in short puberulent hairs with a short, stiff hairy beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 51 sympatric species; very large flowers and perennial habit distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Exposed slopes, coastal-sage scrub, desert canyons
Elevation: < 1850 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia minor blooms Mar-Jun.
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 minor native to California?
Yes. Phacelia minor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia minor bloom?
Phacelia minor blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia minor grow?
Phacelia minor occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, at elevations of < 1850 m.
What plant family does Phacelia minor belong to?
Phacelia minor is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia minor grow in?
Phacelia minor grows in Exposed slopes, coastal-sage scrub, desert canyons.
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.