Phacelia pringlei
Pringle's phacelia
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Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia pringlei (Pringle's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by opposite lower leaves and deeply cleft style diagnostic.
Pringle's phacelia is a California native annual herb found in the Klamath Ranges and high Cascade Range on open, steep slopes and in conifer forests at elevations of 900 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate lavender flowers approximately 3 to 5 millimeters wide with a rotate shape. Growing 2 to 18 centimeters tall with erect stems that are occasionally few-branched and glabrous or minutely glandular near the base, it has a slender, compact form. Its leaves are linear to narrowly lanceolate, 7 to 30 millimeters long, with proximal leaves generally growing opposite and tapering smoothly to the petiole. The fruit is nearly spherical, 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long, and contains 3 to 8 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; opposite lower leaves and deeply cleft style diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, steep slopes, ridges, conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2700 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity
Bloom period
Phacelia pringlei blooms May-Aug.
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 pringlei native to California?
Yes. Phacelia pringlei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia pringlei bloom?
Phacelia pringlei blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Phacelia pringlei grow?
Phacelia pringlei occurs in Siskiyou, Trinity, at elevations of 900-2700 m.
What plant family does Phacelia pringlei belong to?
Phacelia pringlei is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia pringlei grow in?
Phacelia pringlei grows in Open, steep slopes, ridges, conifer forest.
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.