Phacelia stebbinsii
Stebbins' phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Phacelia stebbinsii (Stebbins' phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by typically single large seed per fruit.
Stebbins' phacelia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada in El Dorado County, occurring in gravelly soils, meadows, and conifer forest at elevations of 900 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale blue flowers in delicate bell-shaped clusters approximately 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with erect stems that are lightly branched and puberulent, the plant has a distinctly aromatic quality. Its leaves vary from elliptic to lanceolate, with proximal leaves generally 7 to 50 millimeters long and larger leaves often having 2 to 6 teeth or lobes. The fruit is a small, compressed ovoid structure 3 to 4 millimeters long, densely covered in short hairs and typically containing a single pitted seed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 38 sympatric species; distinguished by typically single large seed per fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly soils, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 900-2100 m
California counties: El Dorado, Placer, Yolo
Bloom period
Phacelia stebbinsii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 stebbinsii native to California?
Yes. Phacelia stebbinsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia stebbinsii bloom?
Phacelia stebbinsii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Phacelia stebbinsii grow?
Phacelia stebbinsii occurs in El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, at elevations of 900-2100 m.
What plant family does Phacelia stebbinsii belong to?
Phacelia stebbinsii is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Is Phacelia stebbinsii rare or endangered?
Phacelia stebbinsii carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
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.