Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides
Panamint phacelia
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides (Panamint phacelia) is a native California perennial in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by woolly stem base and smaller flowers vs. var. jaegeri.
Panamint phacelia is a native perennial found in northern Mojave Desert and northern White and Inyo Mountains in rocky cliff crevices and calcareous slopes at elevations of 600 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces pale blue to lavender flowers with delicate, slightly curved petals. Growing with woolly stems that have spreading base hairs, it reaches heights of 15 to 30 centimeters with an upright, somewhat branching habit. Its leaves are pinnately divided with narrow, elongated segments that provide a fine, lacy texture to the plant's overall appearance. The small fruits contain 100 to 200 tiny seeds, each measuring just a quarter to half a millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; woolly stem base and smaller flowers vs. var. jaegeri
Habitat and range
Habitat: Crevices on cliffs, rocky, often calcareous slopes
Elevation: 600-2200 m
California counties: Inyo
Bloom period
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides blooms Mar-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 perityloides var. perityloides native to California?
Yes. Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides bloom?
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides grow?
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides occurs in Inyo, at elevations of 600-2200 m.
What plant family does Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides belong to?
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides grow in?
Phacelia perityloides var. perityloides grows in Crevices on cliffs, rocky, often calcareous slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.