Intermountain Phacelia
Phacelia demissa
- Native to:
- United States
Sokoloff PC, Murray DA, McBeth SR.M, Irvine MG, Rupert SM (2020) Additions to the “Martian Flora”: new botanical records from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah. Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e55063. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e55063 (doi.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Phacelia
- Species:
- Phacelia demissa
- USDA Symbol:
- PHDE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 20 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, lavender, pale blue
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, native pollinators
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, rocky slopes and desert regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may benefit from light for germination; sow on surface or barely cover.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI