When should I plant the seeds?

Sow seeds in the fall or early winter so they can germinate with the winter rains.

Does it need a lot of water?

It prefers well-drained soil and does not need much water once established.

Plant guide

Distant phacelia.

Phacelia distans

Pronounced fah-SEE-lee-uh DIS-tanz

Also known as blue eyed scorpion weed, common phacelia, distant phacelia

distant phacelia — Photo by Ken-ichi Ueda (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This lovely annual wildflower is native to the western United States and brings a touch of the desert to your garden. It produces beautiful, fern like foliage and clusters of delicate, bell shaped flowers that bees absolutely adore. It is a fantastic choice if you want to support local pollinators in a sunny spot.

Another photo of Distant phacelia — Photo by Ken-ichi Ueda (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual wildflower
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 10
Bloom time: Early to late spring

Care

Plant these in a spot with plenty of sunshine and well draining soil to keep them happy. Watch for wilting if the soil stays too dry for too long, but be careful not to overwater them. They are quite self sufficient once established and will often drop seeds to return next year.

Watering: Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: These plants generally do not require supplemental fertilizer when grown in native soil.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage a longer blooming period.
Repotting: As an annual, this plant completes its life cycle in one season and does not require repotting.
Soil: Sandy or rocky, well draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -7 to 35°C
Humidity: 20 to 50%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Annual, completes life cycle in one season.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The glandular hairs on the stems and leaves can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Children: Keep children away from the foliage as the glandular hairs can cause skin irritation.
Contact allergens: The glandular hairs on the foliage can cause skin irritation or rashes upon contact.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with seasonal allergies.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for consumption and may cause irritation.

How to identify it

Fern like, deeply divided leaves
Clusters of bell shaped flowers
Flowers range from blue to lavender
Covered in fine, soft hairs
Typically grows in upright stalks

Height: 0.2 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, gray-green, deciduous
Flowers: blue, lavender, white, 0.5 to 1.5cm

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · White fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: fall, early winter
Overwintering: This plant germinates in winter and grows through the cool season. No special protection is needed in its native climate.
In containers: It can grow in containers, but prefers being in the ground for root development.

Direct Sowing

1. Clear a patch of soil in a sunny location.
2. Scatter seeds thinly over the surface.
3. Lightly rake them into the soil.
4. Water gently to settle the seeds.

Group this with other drought-tolerant California natives to create a low-maintenance pollinator patch.

Grows well with

California Poppy · They share similar water needs and bloom at the same time.
Blue-eyed Grass · These plants look lovely together in a naturalized meadow setting.

Similar species

Lacy Phacelia · It has a similar appearance but is often used as a cover crop.

Science

Family: Hydrophyllaceae
Genus: Phacelia
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western North America, particularly California and the southwestern United States.
Conservation: This plant is common in its native range and is not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in open, sunny areas and is well-adapted to dry, Mediterranean-style climates.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, pollen source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: pollinator garden, wildflower meadow, erosion control

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

When should I plant the seeds?: Sow seeds in the fall or early winter so they can germinate with the winter rains.
Does it need a lot of water?: It prefers well-drained soil and does not need much water once established.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Phacelia comes from the Greek word for bundle, referring to the clustered flowers. The species name distans refers to the spaced out arrangement of the flowers along the stem.

Good to know

It is commonly known as distant phacelia because of the spacing of its flowers.
It is a fantastic plant for attracting native bees to your backyard.
The plant is an annual that completes its life cycle in a single season.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your distant phacelia growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.