Desert Bluebells
/
(Phacelia campanularia)
Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia)
/
Stickpen
Public domain
Image By:
Stickpen
Recorded By:
Copyright:
Public domain
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Stickpen | License Type: Public domain | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/ | Uploader: Stickpen | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Phaceliacampanularia.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Speckled butterbeans from Jesup, Georgia}} |Source ={{own}} |Author =Jud McCranie |Date =2016-06-04 |Permission = |other_versions = }} [[Category:Beans]] |
Summary
Phacelia campanularia, commonly known as desert bluebells, is an annual herb in the Boraginaceae family. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of California, where it thrives in sandy or gravelly soils, often in washes and open, disturbed sites. This plant typically grows to a height of 0.7 meters (2.3 ft) with an erect stem. The inflorescence is a cyme, with each flower displaying a bright blue corolla up to 4 centimeters long, which can be bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, or round and flattened, sometimes featuring white spots in the throat. The stamens and style, which can be 4.5 centimeters long, often protrude from the corolla, adding to the plant’s ornamental appeal. Flowering occurs in the spring, and the resulting fruit is a capsule up to 1.5 centimeters long.
Desert bluebells are valued for their vibrant blue flowers, which add a splash of color to arid garden settings. They are often used in wildflower mixes, rock gardens, and as border plants. In cultivation, desert bluebells require full sun, low water, and well-drained soils. They are relatively low-maintenance and can reseed under optimal conditions. Gardeners in non-native areas should manage self-seeding to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0
Desert bluebells are valued for their vibrant blue flowers, which add a splash of color to arid garden settings. They are often used in wildflower mixes, rock gardens, and as border plants. In cultivation, desert bluebells require full sun, low water, and well-drained soils. They are relatively low-maintenance and can reseed under optimal conditions. Gardeners in non-native areas should manage self-seeding to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1.5 feet
- Width: 0.5-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Blue
- Flowering Season: Spring, Winter
- Leaf Retention:
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to sandy or gravelly soils, often in washes and open, disturbed sites in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of California
Other Names
Common Names: Desert Bluebells, California Bluebell, Desert Bell, Desert Scorpionweed, Desert Canterbury Bells, Glockenblumen-Büschelschön, Phacélie Campanulée, Klockfacelia
Scientific Names: Phacelia campanularia, Phacelia campanularia subsp. campanularia, Phacelia minor var. campanularia
GBIF Accepted Name: Phacelia campanularia A.Gray