Imbricate Phacelia
Phacelia imbricata
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Franco Folini (www.flickr.com) from San Francisco, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Phacelia
- Species:
- Phacelia imbricata
- USDA Symbol:
- PHIM
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Colonizes disturbed and post-fire sites; not fire-dependent but benefits from open ground after burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to open, rocky slopes and chaparral
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Light may enhance germination. Seeds are short-lived and best sown fresh.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI