Phacelia tetramera
Four parted phacelia
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia tetramera (Four parted phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by 4-parted flowers and absence of petal scales.
Four parted phacelia is a California native annual found in the southeastern Sierra Nevada in alkaline flats, washes, and meadows at elevations of 1,500 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small white to pale flowers in delicate clusters with bell-shaped corollas. Growing with spreading to ascending stems 2 to 15 centimeters tall, it branches throughout and has sparse short hairs. Its leaves are 5 to 30 millimeters long, generally oblong to ovate, with entire or slightly toothed edges. The fruit contains 5 to 12 small seeds, each approximately 1 millimeter long with 6 to 9 cross-furrows.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; distinguished by 4-parted flowers and absence of petal scales
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, washes, meadows
Elevation: 1500-2400 m
Outside California: to eastern Oregon, Utah
Bloom period
Phacelia tetramera blooms May-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 tetramera native to California?
Yes. Phacelia tetramera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia tetramera bloom?
Phacelia tetramera blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Phacelia tetramera belong to?
Phacelia tetramera is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia tetramera grow in?
Phacelia tetramera grows in Alkaline flats, washes, meadows.
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.