Phacelia rotundifolia
Round leafed phacelia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia rotundifolia (Round leafed phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by round leaves shorter than petioles and very numerous tiny seeds.
Round leafed phacelia is a California native annual found in the White and Inyo Mountains and desert regions on rocky slopes, crevices, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to violet flowers in small, narrowly bell-shaped clusters around 3 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 4 to 28 centimeters tall, it has few to many branches covered in short, stiff hairs and often glandular. Its round leaves are 10 to 40 millimeters long, distinctively dentate or weakly lobed with obtuse edges, typically shorter than their own petioles. The plant produces small oblong fruits 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, containing 50 to 100 tiny pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 38 sympatric species; distinguished by round leaves shorter than petioles and very numerous tiny seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, crevices, ledges, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Kern, Mono, San Diego
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Phacelia rotundifolia blooms Apr-Jun.
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 rotundifolia native to California?
Yes. Phacelia rotundifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia rotundifolia bloom?
Phacelia rotundifolia blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia rotundifolia grow?
Phacelia rotundifolia occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Kern, Mono, San Diego, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia rotundifolia belong to?
Phacelia rotundifolia is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia rotundifolia grow in?
Phacelia rotundifolia grows in Rocky slopes, crevices, ledges, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.