Phacelia vallis-mortae
Death valley phacelia
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia vallis-mortae (Death valley phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by large flowers, curved sepals not enclosing fruit, and wide elevation range.
Death valley phacelia is a California native annual found in western San Joaquin Valley, Southeastern Sierra Nevada, eastern Mojave Desert, and northern Sonoran Desert in sandy to rocky scrub habitats at elevations of 90 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces lavender to violet flowers 8 to 15 millimeters long in funnel- to bell-shaped corollas. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with ascending to erect stems that are puberulent and sparsely covered with stiff reflexed hairs, it develops a branching habit. Its compound leaves range 15 to 80 millimeters long, with oblong blades featuring toothed or lobed leaflets. The fruit is a small ovoid structure 3 to 4 millimeters long, typically containing four pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 55 sympatric species; distinguished by large flowers, curved sepals not enclosing fruit, and wide elevation range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy to rocky soils, scrub
Elevation: 90-2700 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Kern, Riverside, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, San Benito
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Phacelia vallis-mortae 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 vallis-mortae native to California?
Yes. Phacelia vallis-mortae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia vallis-mortae bloom?
Phacelia vallis-mortae blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia vallis-mortae grow?
Phacelia vallis-mortae occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Kern, Riverside, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 90-2700 m.
What plant family does Phacelia vallis-mortae belong to?
Phacelia vallis-mortae is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia vallis-mortae grow in?
Phacelia vallis-mortae grows in Sandy to rocky soils, scrub.
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.