Native Plant of the Month: California Phacelia

California phacelia (Phacelia californica) has an abundance of fluffy purple flowers that uncurl in a spiral or fiddlehead shape from early spring through early summer. Its flowers are attractive to many pollinators, and you can often spot bumble bees bouncing from flower to flower enjoying their nectar. It is also an important nectar source for the endangered Mission blue butterfly, which is native to the Bay Area.

How to Grow California Phacelia

Phacelia is easy to care for in the garden. It is a fast growing, herbaceous perennial that lives three or more years. Its soft green leaves and stems die back to the ground in fall, but the roots of the perennial plant are alive underground and new growth will emerge in the spring. The spent flowers will seed throughout the garden and will also grow new plants the next year.

Phacelia is found naturally in dry woodlands and coastal bluffs. Plant your phacelia in part to full shade, within an open meadow, as a border, or under deciduous or evergreen trees such as oaks.

Once its roots are established, only occasional water in the summertime is needed for an amazing floral display. You can also prune the old flower stems in late fall to encourage new growth next year.

Native Plants to Grow with California Phacelia

California phacelia pairs well with other drought tolerant natives such as California goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp.californica), coastal buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), and Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana).

Where to Buy Native Plants

California Phacelia and other California native plants are available for sale from our Native Plant Nursery, grown from local wild-collected seed.

Our nursery is also a partner of Bloom! California along with over 100 other nurseries around the state offering eleven select native plant groups, including phacelia, that bring California’s unique beauty into your garden, create pollinator habitat, restore nature in the urban landscape, and support water conservation. Learn more at bloomcalifornia.org.

By Nursery Director, Deanna Giuliano