Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii
Goodding's phacelia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii (Goodding's phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by clay soil habitat and small numerous seeds diagnostic.
Goodding's phacelia is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in northern Mojave Desert in clay soil flats at elevations of 800 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to violet flowers in bell-shaped blooms 6 to 12 millimeters wide with yellow flower tubes. Growing 5 to 25 centimeters tall with ascending to erect branches that are short-stiff-hairy and aromatic, the plant has a delicate, openly branched structure. Its leaves are ovate to nearly round, 5 to 40 millimeters long, with slightly toothed edges and blades longer than their petioles. The fruit is a puberulent oblong capsule 4 to 5 millimeters long, containing 40 to 50 small pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; clay soil habitat and small numerous seeds diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay soils, flats
Elevation: 800-1400 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: Nevada, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.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 pulchella var. gooddingii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii bloom?
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii grow?
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 800-1400 m.
What plant family does Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii belong to?
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii rare or endangered?
Phacelia pulchella var. gooddingii carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
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.