Carried by 1 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Phacelia viscida is a species in the Boraginaceae (Borage) family known by the common names Sticky Phacelia and Tacky Phacelia. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of central and southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and recently burned areas. It is an annual herb growing erect to a maximum height near 70 centimeters. It is hairy and sticky and coated in soft and stiff, glandular hairs. The leaves have toothed oval blades borne on petioles. The hairy flower cluster is a curving cyme of five-lobed flowers. Each flower is up to 2 centimeters wide and usually deep blue to lavender in color with a paler, mottled center. The five protruding stamens are tipped with white anthers. The variety albiflora has white flowers.
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
2 ft Tall
2 ft Wide
Fast
Unpleasant
Blue
Spring
Full Sun
Very Low
Max 1x / month once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to 20° F
Fast, Medium
Prefers rich, well drained soil.
By seed
14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Open, sandy places along the coast or on coastal-facing inland slopes
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub
Numerous companion plants including Milkweed (Asclepias spp.), Giant Wild Rye (Elymus condensatus), Sand Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia), Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Monkeyflower (Mimulus spp.), Encelia californica, Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Heartleaf Keckiella (Keckiella cordifolia), Penstemon species, Salvia species, Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 9 likely
Geranium Plume Moth
Amblyptilia pica
Oso Flaco Flightless Moth
Areniscythris brachypteris
Orange Tortrix Moth
Argyrotaenia franciscana