Phacelia purpusii
Purpus' phacelia
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia purpusii (Purpus' phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by translucent petal stripes and papillate stamens diagnostic.
Purpus' phacelia is a California native annual found in southern California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in conifer forests with sandy or gravelly soils at elevations of 700 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces lavender to violet bell-shaped flowers 6 to 8 millimeters long with translucent petal areas. Growing with generally erect stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall that are puberulent and sometimes glandular, it displays a sparse, upright form. Its leaves range 12 to 50 millimeters long, with elliptic to ovate blades that are entire or slightly lobed. The fruit is a small, short-glandular-hairy ovoid structure containing 3 to 7 pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; translucent petal stripes and papillate stamens diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, conifer forest
Elevation: 700-2300 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Kern, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, Modoc, San Benito, Mariposa, El Dorado, Kings
Bloom period
Phacelia purpusii blooms May-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 purpusii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia purpusii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia purpusii bloom?
Phacelia purpusii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia purpusii grow?
Phacelia purpusii occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Kern, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 700-2300 m.
What plant family does Phacelia purpusii belong to?
Phacelia purpusii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia purpusii grow in?
Phacelia purpusii grows in Sandy or gravelly soils, 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.