Silky Phacelia
(Phacelia sericea)
Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea)
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Alan Covington
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Alan Covington
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Alan Covington | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Alan Covington | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-07-28T12:33:20-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Phacelia sericea, commonly known as Silky Phacelia, is a biennial or perennial subshrub or herb that is evergreen. It is native to alpine and subalpine habitats, including meadows, talus slopes, and rocky ridges in the Intermountain West of the USA and parts of Canada. This plant typically grows to 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall, with several upright or ascending stems emerging from a tap-rooted, branched woody base. The inflorescence is characterized by several short, tightly packed panicles at the stem’s end, giving it a bottle-brush appearance. The flowers are dark blue to purple with a bell-shaped corolla measuring 4–6 mm across, blooming in late spring to early summer and are quite showy due to their dense arrangement and striking color.
Silky Phacelia is valued for its unique inflorescence and vibrant flower color, making it an attractive choice for rock gardens, alpine gardens, and native plant landscapes. It is also recognized for its adaptability to high-altitude gardening. While it is listed as suitable for roadside landscaping in Colorado, gardeners should be cautious as the long flower hairs can cause skin irritation. Silky Phacelia thrives in full sun to part shade, requires low amounts of water, and prefers well-drained soils. It is relatively low-maintenance, but its specific habitat requirements should be considered for successful cultivation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Silky Phacelia is valued for its unique inflorescence and vibrant flower color, making it an attractive choice for rock gardens, alpine gardens, and native plant landscapes. It is also recognized for its adaptability to high-altitude gardening. While it is listed as suitable for roadside landscaping in Colorado, gardeners should be cautious as the long flower hairs can cause skin irritation. Silky Phacelia thrives in full sun to part shade, requires low amounts of water, and prefers well-drained soils. It is relatively low-maintenance, but its specific habitat requirements should be considered for successful cultivation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.3-0.5 feet
- Width: 0.6-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Alpine and subalpine habitats, including meadows, talus slopes, and rocky ridges
Other Names
Common Names: Blue Alpine Phacelia , Silky Scorpionweed , Phacélie Soyeuse , Praktfacelia
Scientific Names: Phacelia sericea , Phacelia sericea var. sericea , Phacelia sericea subsp. eusericea , Phacelia sericea var. nelsonii
GBIF Accepted Name: Phacelia sericea (Graham) A.Gray