Phacelia tanacetifolia
Lacy phacelia
(c) Alexis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia tanacetifolia (Lacy phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by tansy-like compound leaves and very long purple stamens.
Lacy phacelia is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, North Coast Ranges interior, California Ranges foothills, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in sandy to gravelly slopes and open areas at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces blue flowers in dense, widely bell-shaped corollas 6 to 9 millimeters long with striking purple stamens. Growing 15 to 100 centimeters tall with erect stems that are short-stiff-hairy and occasionally branched, it develops a distinctive appearance. Its compound leaves are 20 to 200 millimeters long, with oblong to ovate blades that feature toothed or lobed leaflets. The plant produces small ovoid fruits 3 to 4 millimeters long, containing one to two wrinkled, pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 85 sympatric species; distinguished by tansy-like compound leaves and very long purple stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to gravelly slopes, open areas
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Tulare, Orange, Lake, Riverside, Monterey, Fresno, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Inyo, Contra Costa, Kings, Merced, Santa Clara, Butte, Alameda, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Tehama, Colusa, Yolo, San Diego, Mariposa, Amador, Marin, Sutter, Solano, Imperial, Glenn, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma, San Francisco, Nevada
Outside California: southern Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Phacelia tanacetifolia blooms Mar-May.
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 tanacetifolia native to California?
Yes. Phacelia tanacetifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia tanacetifolia bloom?
Phacelia tanacetifolia blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Phacelia tanacetifolia grow?
Phacelia tanacetifolia occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Tulare, Orange, Lake, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Phacelia tanacetifolia belong to?
Phacelia tanacetifolia is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia tanacetifolia grow in?
Phacelia tanacetifolia grows in Sandy to gravelly slopes, open areas.
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.