Phacelia novenmillensis
Nine mile canyon phacelia, Nine Mile Canyon Phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Phacelia novenmillensis (Nine mile canyon phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by linear leaves and long-ciliate unequal fruiting calyx diagnostic.
Nine mile canyon phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada eastern slopes and western edge of the Mojave Desert in pinyon/juniper woodland and conifer forest at elevations of 1,600 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces lavender bell-shaped flowers small in size with distinctive long-ciliate calyx lobes. Growing with ascending to erect stems 5 to 10 centimeters tall, the plant has sparse short soft hairs and occasional minute glandular hairs. Its leaves are oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, typically 20 to 80 millimeters long, with proximal leaves sometimes irregularly lobed or compound. The fruit is small, ovoid, and short-hairy, containing 2 to 4 pitted seeds approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; linear leaves and long-ciliate unequal fruiting calyx diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy to gravelly soils, pinyon/juniper woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 1600-2200 m
Bloom period
Phacelia novenmillensis blooms May-Jun.
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 novenmillensis native to California?
Yes. Phacelia novenmillensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia novenmillensis bloom?
Phacelia novenmillensis blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Phacelia novenmillensis belong to?
Phacelia novenmillensis is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia novenmillensis rare or endangered?
Phacelia novenmillensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Phacelia novenmillensis grow in?
Phacelia novenmillensis grows in Open, sandy to gravelly soils, pinyon/juniper woodland, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.