Phacelia crenulata - Cleftleaf Wild Heliotrope, Heliotrope Phacelia, Notch Leaved Phacelia

Phacelia crenulata is an annual California native growing through the deserts of Southern California in the Creosote, Joshua Tree and Pinyon Juniper habitats. The Cleftleaf Wild Heliotrope is also called Heliotrope Phacelia and Notch Leaved Phacelia. Phacelia crenulata grows 1 foot tall, often supporting itself by clambering through and over other foliage. Phacelia crenulata has purple flowers with white centers. In the desert Phacelia crenulata grows in sandy washes and on coarse alluvium. The stiff hairs can cause iching for some folks. It is common for plants to come back in the same spot year after year from seed. The seeds of Phacelia crenulata will appreciate a dry Summer setting, mowing for fire suppression after the seedheads have dried will just spread the seed all the more. Dried flower stalks make a great addition the the dried flower arrangement. I scatter these and other wildflower seeds with the first significant rain in the Fall

Plants from the Genus Phacelia featured on this site:
Phacelia campanularia
Phacelia cicutaria
Phacelia ciliata
Phacelia crenulata
Phacelia distans
Phacelia grandiflora
Phacelia parryi
Phacelia ramosissima
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Phacelia viscida