Phacelia orogenes
Mountain phacelia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Phacelia orogenes (Mountain phacelia) is a native California subshrub in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by opposite proximal leaves and high elevation diagnostic.
Mountain phacelia is a native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada (Mineral King, Tulare County) on gravelly slopes, meadow edges, and conifer forest at elevations of 2,060 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from July to August, this diminutive plant produces violet-lobed flowers with white to yellow tubes in small clusters 4 to 6 millimeters wide. Growing with erect stems 2 to 10 centimeters tall that are puberulent and sparsely glandular, it appears delicate and compact. Its linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves measure 5 to 30 millimeters long, with proximal leaves arranged opposite and tapering smoothly to narrow petioles. The small fruit contains 3 to 8 pitted seeds, each 1.5 to 2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; opposite proximal leaves and high elevation diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly slopes, meadow edges, conifer forest
Elevation: 2060-3400 m
Bloom period
Phacelia orogenes blooms Jul-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 orogenes native to California?
Yes. Phacelia orogenes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia orogenes bloom?
Phacelia orogenes blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Phacelia orogenes belong to?
Phacelia orogenes is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia orogenes rare or endangered?
Phacelia orogenes carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Phacelia orogenes grow in?
Phacelia orogenes grows in Gravelly slopes, meadow edges, 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.