Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa
Blue alpine phacelia
Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa (Blue alpine phacelia) is a native California subshrub in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by perennial habit, silvery silky hairs, and dark blue urn-shaped flowers.
Blue alpine phacelia is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in northern Klamath Ranges and Warner Mountains on ridges and talus slopes at elevations of 2,100 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces dark blue to purple flowers 5 to 8 millimeters long in spike-like clusters with persistent, urn-shaped corollas. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with ascending to erect stems covered in silvery, silky appressed hairs, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are 20 to 65 millimeters long, lanceolate to oblong, deeply lobed or dissected with entire or toothed segments. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long, ovoid, and covered in stiff hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; distinguished by perennial habit, silvery silky hairs, and dark blue urn-shaped flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ridges, talus slopes
Elevation: 2100-2700 m
Outside California: to Idaho, Colorado
Bloom period
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa blooms Jun-Aug.
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 sericea var. ciliosa native to California?
Yes. Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa bloom?
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa belong to?
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa rare or endangered?
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa grow in?
Phacelia sericea var. ciliosa grows in Ridges, talus slopes.
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.