Sticky Phacelia

Phacelia viscida

perennial herbView on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

very low

Soil

Fast, Medium; Prefers rich, well drained soil.

Size

2–2ft tall, 2–2ft wide

Bloom

Mar-May

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Native Range

Foothills and lower mountains of central California from the Sierra Nevada to the Diablo Range, 500-3000 ft elevation, in chaparral and scrub.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant Sticky Phacelia in full sun with fast or medium-draining soil that's rich and well-amended. This Bay Area native thrives in the same conditions as coastal sage scrub and chaparral, so avoid heavy clay and ensure water runs through quickly. Start from seed in spring, which aligns with the plant's natural flowering season (March–May). Space plants to accommodate their mature height of about 2 feet.

After Planting

Once established, Sticky Phacelia is genuinely low-maintenance - water no more than once a month in summer and let rainfall handle the rest in winter. The biggest mistake is overwatering; this annual prefers lean conditions and will get leggy or rot with too much water. Since it's an annual, expect it to flower in spring, set seed, and complete its lifecycle in a single season, so plan to reseed each year if you want continuous blooms.

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Wildlife Supported