Sticky Phacelia
(Phacelia viscida)
Sticky Phacelia (Phacelia viscida)
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Jerry Kirkhart
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Jerry Kirkhart
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Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Jerry Kirkhart | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: jkirkhart35 | Publisher: Flickr |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Phacelia viscida, commonly known as Sticky Phacelia, is an annual herb native to the chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands of Southern California. It typically grows erect to a maximum height of around 70 centimeters. Sticky Phacelia is characterized by its glandular and sticky texture, coated with both soft and stiff hairs, which can make it unpalatable to herbivores. The leaves are toothed with oval blades borne on petioles. The distinctive hairy, glandular inflorescence is a curving cyme of flowers, each up to 2 centimeters wide. The flowers range from nearly white to deep blue in color, with a paler, mottled center, and are notable for their five protruding stamens tipped with white anthers, blooming in late spring to early summer.
Sticky Phacelia is valued for its unique texture and attractive flowers, which can add visual interest to native plant gardens and wildflower meadows. It is also beneficial to pollinators, attracting bees and butterflies. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and is drought-tolerant, requiring low to medium amounts of water. It thrives in well-draining soils and is relatively low-maintenance, making it suitable for xeriscaping. However, gardeners should handle the plant with care as its hairs can cause skin irritation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Sticky Phacelia is valued for its unique texture and attractive flowers, which can add visual interest to native plant gardens and wildflower meadows. It is also beneficial to pollinators, attracting bees and butterflies. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and is drought-tolerant, requiring low to medium amounts of water. It thrives in well-draining soils and is relatively low-maintenance, making it suitable for xeriscaping. However, gardeners should handle the plant with care as its hairs can cause skin irritation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-2.5 feet
- Width: 0.75-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention:
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak woodlands of Southern California
Other Names
Common Names: Tacky Phacelia
Scientific Names: Phacelia viscida , Phacelia viscida var. albiflora , Eutoca viscida , Phacelia viscida f. albiflora , Eutoca albiflora , Eutoca viscosa
GBIF Accepted Name: Phacelia viscida (Benth. ex Lindl.) Torr.