Phacelia mohavensis
Mojave phacelia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Phacelia mohavensis (Mojave phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by color-changing flowers and unequal stamens distinctive.
Mojave phacelia is a native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, and San Bernardino Mountains in sandy or gravelly soils within conifer forest at elevations of 900 to 2,570 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces white flowers that age to pale blue, 5 to 8 millimeters long with bell-shaped corollas and delicate translucent petal areas. Growing 5 to 25 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short-stiff-hairy and occasionally branched, it develops distinctive violet-white stamens. Its leaves are 10 to 45 millimeters long, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, ranging from entire to coarsely few-toothed and tapering to a slender petiole. The small ovoid fruit is 3 to 5 millimeters long, covered in short stiff hairs and containing 4 to 8 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species; color-changing flowers and unequal stamens distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2570 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Ventura
Bloom period
Phacelia mohavensis blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 mohavensis native to California?
Yes. Phacelia mohavensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia mohavensis bloom?
Phacelia mohavensis blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Phacelia mohavensis grow?
Phacelia mohavensis occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Ventura, at elevations of 900-2570 m.
What plant family does Phacelia mohavensis belong to?
Phacelia mohavensis is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia mohavensis rare or endangered?
Phacelia mohavensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · 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.