For gardeners
Useful for identifying ornamental or pollinator-friendly species such as lacy phacelia and desert bluebell.
What is Phacelia?
Phacelia is a large group of mostly North American wildflowers. Many are valued for their curled flower clusters, pollinator appeal, and vivid blue-to-purple blooms. Some species are widespread and easy to recognize, while others are narrow regional plants tied to dunes, serpentine soils, mountains, deserts, or specific local habitats.
For naturalists
Helpful as a quick comparison table by flower color, life cycle, region, and status.
For researchers
Designed as a foundation that can later expand into individual species pages with sources and field notes.
Species List
This table is a working reference. Entries should be checked against botanical sources before being used for formal identification or conservation decisions.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Life Cycle | Flower Color | Primary Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phacelia argentea | Sand Dune Phacelia | Perennial | Cream/Yellow | OR/CA Coast | Threatened |
| Phacelia austromontana | Southern Mountain Phacelia | Annual | Blue/White | California Mountains | Stable |
| Phacelia bicolor | Two-color Phacelia | Annual | Purple/Yellow | California/Nevada | Stable |
| Phacelia bipinnatifida | Fernleaf Phacelia | Biennial | Blue/Lavender | Southeastern US | Stable |
| Phacelia bolanderi | Bolander's Phacelia | Perennial | Blue/Lavender | PNW Coast | Stable |
| Phacelia campanularia | Desert Bluebell | Annual | Deep Blue | Sonoran/Mojave Desert | Stable |
| Phacelia capitata | Round-headed Phacelia | Perennial | White/Lavender | Oregon/Washington | Stable |
| Phacelia cicutaria | Caterpillar Phacelia | Annual | Lavender/White | California/Arizona | Stable |
| Phacelia corymbosa | Serpentine Phacelia | Perennial | White | Northern California | Stable |
| Phacelia crenulata | Notch-leaf Scorpionweed | Annual | Deep Purple | Southwest US | Stable |
| Phacelia curvipes | Washoe Phacelia | Annual | Blue/Purple | Great Basin | Stable |
| Phacelia distans | Distant Phacelia | Annual | Blue/Tan | California/Mexico | Stable |
| Phacelia douglasii | Douglas' Phacelia | Annual | Pale Blue | California | Stable |
| Phacelia fimbriata | Fringed Phacelia | Annual | White/Blue | Appalachians | Stable |
| Phacelia fremontii | Fremont's Phacelia | Annual | Purple/Yellow | Mojave Desert | Stable |
| Phacelia grandiflora | Large-flowered Phacelia | Annual | Blue/Lavender | Southern California | Stable |
| Phacelia hastata | Silverleaf Phacelia | Perennial | White/Purple | Western North America | Stable |
| Phacelia heterophylla | Varileaf Phacelia | Perennial | White/Lavender | Western North America | Stable |
| Phacelia imbricata | Imbricate Phacelia | Perennial | White/Cream | California/Baja | Stable |
| Phacelia integrifolia | Gypsum Phacelia | Annual | Purple | Southwest US | Stable |
| Phacelia linearis | Threadleaf Phacelia | Annual | Purple/Blue | Western North America | Stable |
| Phacelia minor | Wild Canterbury Bells | Annual | Deep Purple | Southern California | Stable |
| Phacelia mutabilis | Changeable Phacelia | Perennial | Lavender/Buff | PNW Mountains | Stable |
| Phacelia parryi | Parry's Phacelia | Annual | Royal Blue | Southern California | Stable |
| Phacelia purshii | Miami Mist | Annual | Lavender/Blue | Eastern/Midwest US | Stable |
| Phacelia sericea | Silky Phacelia | Perennial | Deep Purple | Alpine/Subalpine | Stable |
| Phacelia sewaneensis | Sewanee Purple Phacelia | Biennial | Deep Purple | Tennessee/Alabama | New Species |
| Phacelia tanacetifolia | Lacy Phacelia | Annual | Lavender | Widespread/Cultivated | Stable |
| Phacelia Viscida | Tacky Phacelia | Annual | Blue/White | California Coast | Stable |
| Phacelia whitlavia | California Bellflower | Annual | Purple/Blue | Southern California | Stable |