Description
A bee magnet! This delightful biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower can grow 2′-4′ tall. The charming, coiled whitish-cream-colored, bell-shaped flowers bloom May-June, and like other phacelias, have protruding stamens. Varileaf phacelia usually produces just a single, tall flowering stem that can be either green or red. All parts of the plant are bristly or glandular hairy. Grows from a taproot on foothill slopes, rock outcrops, ridgelines, well-drained or rocky flats, in chaparral, and other dry, open locations at low to high elevations. Prefers full sun or part shade. A member of the Boraginaceae (Forget-me-not, or Borage family). Both the common name of varileaf phacelia, and the specific epithet, heterophylla (which translates to “different leaves”), are good descriptions for the varying shapes and sizes of the leaves. A great species for dryland pollinator gardens and habitat restoration.
Varileaf phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla) seed packets contain approximately 150 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
30 days of cold-moist stratification is recommended. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. Sow seeds outside in fall to early spring and let nature do the stratification naturally outside, if you have cold enough winters. If you live in an area with mild winters, you may need to provide the cold-moist stratification artificially. For more information please read through the information in our Seed Germination and Propagation Reference Guide.
