Phacelia viscida var. viscida
Sticky phacelia
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Family: Hydrophyllaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Phacelia viscida var. viscida (Sticky phacelia) is a native California annual in the Hydrophyllaceae family, recognized by large rotate flowers with contrasting colors, very long styles, glandular-sticky.
Sticky phacelia is a California native annual found in southern coastal California, including Santa Catalina, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa islands, in coastal-sage scrub and chaparral at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces flowers with pale lavender to bright blue lobes and a white or purple throat, forming a rotate corolla 15 to 25 millimeters in diameter. Growing with stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall, it has a distinctive appearance with blue filaments and a style 5 to 16 millimeters long. Its leaves are characteristic of the species, contributing to its overall delicate and vibrant presence in coastal habitats. The plant's name reflects its sticky nature, which helps distinguish it in the diverse coastal ecosystems of California.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; key features are large rotate flowers with contrasting colors, very long styles, glandular-sticky
Habitat and range
Habitat: Exposed, +- moist areas, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Monterey, Los Angeles
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Phacelia viscida var. viscida blooms Mar-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 viscida var. viscida native to California?
Yes. Phacelia viscida var. viscida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phacelia viscida var. viscida bloom?
Phacelia viscida var. viscida blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Phacelia viscida var. viscida grow?
Phacelia viscida var. viscida occurs in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Monterey, Los Angeles, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Phacelia viscida var. viscida belong to?
Phacelia viscida var. viscida is in the Hydrophyllaceae family, genus Phacelia.
What habitat does Phacelia viscida var. viscida grow in?
Phacelia viscida var. viscida grows in Exposed, +- moist areas, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Phacelia adenophora — Glandular yellow phacelia
- Phacelia affinis — Limestone phacelia
- Phacelia amabilis — Saline valley phacelia
- Phacelia anelsonii — Aven nelson's phacelia
- Phacelia argentea — Sand dune phacelia
- Phacelia austromontana — Southern sierra phacelia
- Pholistoma auritum — Blue fiestaflower
- Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum — Arizona pholistoma
- Pholistoma auritum var. auritum — Fiesta flower
- Pholistoma membranaceum — White fiesta flower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.