The Caterpillar Phacelia is a native California wildflower that grows 1-2 feet tall. It has bright green, deeply lobed leaves covered in bristly hairs that can cause rashes. From March to May it produces small, pale lavender to white flowers on upright stalks that resemble a caterpillar "unrolling", giving it its common name. It is well-suited for mixed beds, prairies, and meadows with other wildflowers and grasses, where it provides habitat and forage for butterflies, bees and birds. It needs full sun, well-drained soil, and winter/spring moisture but little water once blooming.

1. Caterpillar Phacelia – Phacelia cicutaria
(fa-SEEL-ee-uh sik-yoo-TARE-ee-uh)
Family: Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family)
Native to: Much of southern & southwestern CA, at lower elevations; dry, rocky slopes in coastal
scrublands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, open oak woodland.
and var. hubbyi.
Our local varieties are var. hispida
Growth characteristics: herbaceous annual wildflower mature height:1-2 ft. mature width:1-3 ft.
Upright, shrubby annual with bright green, deeply-lobed leaves. Entire plant is covered with bristly
hairs.
Note: Bristly hairs of all Phacelia may cause dermatitis (rash) in susceptible persons.
Blooms March to May. Flowers are small, pale lavender to nearly white, on upright
stalks above the foliage. Flowers open sequentially along the stalk over a long bloom period (more
than a month). As the flower stalk ‘unrolls’ it looks somewhat like a caterpillar, hence the common
name ‘Caterpillar Phacelia’.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Probably best used in mixed beds or wildflower prairies/meadows with other
wildflowers, native grasses and even native shrubs. Flowers are small but nice when massed.
Would work well in large pots or planters.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native spring annuals.
Attracts: Good habitat plant. Butterflies and bees seek nectar and birds/insects eat seeds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to very light shade.
Well-drained; sandy/rocky soil is best. Any local pH.
Needs adequate winter/spring moisture for growth; little to no water once begins to
flower (Zone 1-2).
None.
Treat like other native wildflowers. Can sprawl when flowering, so might need
May reseed on bare ground.
Management:
staking.
Propagation: from seed: seeds small. Germination may be slow. Can increase germination by
exposure to extracts of charred native shrubs or ‘Liquid Smoke’.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 10, 13, 16
1/22/08
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