Phacelia viscida
Sticky phacelia
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Phacelia viscida (Sticky phacelia) is a native California herb in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by very sticky glandular hairs, lack of petal scales, and stamens wider at base.
Sticky phacelia is a California native annual found in open grasslands and disturbed areas at moderate elevations. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces blue to white flowers in delicate, loosely branched clusters with blossoms 5 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 10 to 100 centimeters tall, covered in short stiff hairs and glandular surfaces, it has a distinctive branching habit. Its leaves range from 10 to 100 millimeters long, with elliptic to broadly ovate blades that are irregularly toothed and sometimes deeply lobed. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 5 to 12 millimeters long, containing 40 to 200 tiny, shallowly pitted seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; distinguished by very sticky glandular hairs, lack of petal scales, and stamens wider at base
Habitat and range
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Alameda
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 viscida native to California?
Yes. Phacelia viscida is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Phacelia viscida grow?
Phacelia viscida occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, Orange and other counties.
What plant family does Phacelia viscida belong to?
Phacelia viscida is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Phacelia viscida var. albiflora — Sticky phacelia
- Phacelia viscida var. viscida — Sticky phacelia
- Phacelia adenophora — Glandular yellow phacelia
- Phacelia affinis — Limestone phacelia
- Phacelia amabilis — Saline valley phacelia
- Phacelia anelsonii — Aven nelson's phacelia
- Pholistoma auritum — Blue fiestaflower
- Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum — Arizona pholistoma
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.