Does it need full sun?

Yes, it performs best in full sun.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is best suited for garden beds but can grow in large containers.

Plant guide

Lacy Phacelia.

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Pronounced fah-SEE-lee-ah tan-ah-seh-tih-FOH-lee-ah

Also known as Phacelia, Scorpion Weed

Lacy phacelia — Photo by Pavel Komkov (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Phacelia is a fantastic annual wildflower that bees absolutely adore. It produces beautiful, fern like foliage and clusters of nectar rich, lavender blue flowers. It is a wonderful addition to any garden looking to support local pollinators.

Another photo of Lacy Phacelia — Photo by Elizabeth Lockhart (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual wildflower
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Sow these seeds directly into your garden soil during the cooler months. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination occurs. Watch for wilting during dry spells, as this plant prefers steady moisture to keep blooming.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding: This plant generally does not require extra fertilizer in decent garden soil.
Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage a longer flowering season.
Repotting: As an annual, this plant is best grown directly in the ground.
Soil: Well draining, sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -10 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The plant contains hairs that can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Children: The stiff hairs on the stems and leaves may cause minor skin irritation if handled by children.
Contact allergens: The glandular hairs on the foliage can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not typically considered a major allergen.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Fern like, deeply divided leaves
Clusters of lavender blue flowers
Coiled, fiddlehead shaped flower spikes
Hairy stems and foliage

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: blue, lavender, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Damping OffUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your lacy phacelia from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In mild climates, it may persist through winter, but it is typically grown as a seasonal annual.
In containers: It grows well in containers at least 30 centimeters deep.

Direct Sowing

Prepare a weed free seed bed.
Scatter seeds thinly over the soil surface.
Lightly rake the soil to cover seeds with a thin layer of earth.
Keep the soil moist until germination occurs.

Plant this near vegetable crops to boost pollination rates and attract predatory insects.

Grows well with

Borage · Both are excellent at attracting bees to the garden.
California Poppy · They share similar water and sun requirements.

Similar species

Blue Tansy · It shares a similar appearance and pollinator appeal.

Science

Family: Hydrophyllaceae
Genus: Phacelia
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southwestern United States and Mexico
Conservation: This plant is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open areas where it quickly establishes to provide nectar for early pollinators.

Value to wildlife: excellent nectar source, attracts beneficial insects
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths
Uses: cover crop, pollinator garden, cut flower

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: Yes, it performs best in full sun.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It is best suited for garden beds but can grow in large containers.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Phacelia comes from the Greek word for bundle, referring to the clustered flowers. The species name tanacetifolia means tansy leaved.

Good to know

It is often called lacy phacelia due to its fern like foliage.
It is one of the top plants for attracting honeybees.
The flowers curl in a way that resembles a scorpion tail.

Keep your lacy phacelia growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.