Phacelia hastata
silverleaf phacelia
Overview
Phacelia hastata is a low, mat- to mound-forming perennial in the borage family (Boraginaceae), 6–20 inches (15–50 cm) tall, with stems spreading outward then turning up at the tips. The lance- to spear-shaped leaves are 1–4 inches (2.5–10 cm) long, covered in silvery hairs and often with a pair of small lobes near the base, giving a silver-gray cast to the whole plant. From late spring into summer it produces tightly coiled flower clusters that unroll as they bloom, carrying many small bell-shaped flowers of white to pale lavender, each with stamens projecting well beyond the petals. It grows on dry, open ground — sagebrush steppe, rocky slopes, gravelly flats, and montane openings — across much of western North America from low desert to subalpine elevations. The glandular hairs on the foliage can cause skin irritation in sensitive people. It is drought-adapted and short-lived, often persisting only a few years before relying on seedlings to maintain a stand.
Native Range
Phacelia hastata is native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and Sierra Nevada to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. It occupies dry, open habitats from sagebrush flats to high mountain slopes.Suggested Uses
Phacelia hastata is used in rock gardens, dryland and native plantings, and pollinator gardens on well-drained sites. Its early-summer flowers draw native bees and butterflies. It also stabilizes gravelly slopes where little else grows.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'8"
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to lavenderFoliage Description
silvery-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight