Carried by 29 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Phacelia californica is a species of phacelia known by the common names California phacelia and California scorpionweed. It is native to coastal northern California and Oregon, where it grows in chaparral, woodland, and coastal bluffs and grassland. It is a perennial herb growing decumbent or erect, its branching stems reaching up to 90 centimeters long. It is roughly hairy in texture. The leaves are up to 20 centimeters long, the lower ones divided into several leaflets. The dense, hairy flower cluster is a one-sided curving or coiling cyme of many bell-shaped flowers. Each white or pale blue to lavender flower is under a centimeter wide. This native wildflower is a food source for the Mission blue butterfly, an endangered species endemic to San Francisco.
It should be noted that there are a very large number of species in the genus Phacelia. Most are annuals. Gardeners should look for species appropriate to their area and garden conditions.
Annual herb, Perennial herb
6 - 18 in Tall
1 - 2 ft Wide
Spreading
Fast
Evergreen, Summer Deciduous
Lavender, White
Summer, Spring
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Low, Moderate
Never irrigate once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to 15° F
Fast
Adaptable, well draining.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 7.0
7, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*
Bluffs, open slopes
Chaparral, Northern Coastal Scrub
Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus), Checker Bloom (Sidalcea malviflora), Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Butterflies and moths supported
3 confirmed and 8 likely
Geranium Plume Moth
Amblyptilia pica