Phacelia sericea
Family: Boraginaceae
Common name: SCORPION WEED
Native to: Western North America
Plant
Types: biennial, perennial
Forms: clumping, erect
Max height: 2 feet
Max width: 0.33 feet
Flower
blue/green, magenta/purple, white/off white
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, specific butterfly species
Exposure: sun
Propagates by: seed
flowers in summer
Soil type: well drained
USDA Zones: zone 3 -40 f, zone 4 -30 f, zone 5 to -20 f, zone 6 to -10 f, zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f, zone 10 to +30 f
Temp. range: -40 to +40 °F
Water: regular
Butterflies that feed on this plant
There are 230 species of Phacelia, also known as SCORPION WEED, is a member of the Boraginaceae family. Phacelia californica is a perennial wildflower. It resides mostly along the coast of northern California; patches are found in the Sierras as well. This is one of the cultivated Phacelia perennials that appeal to butterflies. Phacelia sericea, an alpine perennial that is summer flowering, prefers regular water, and grows to 2 feet tall in Zones 3-10. Try it in a container.
Unspecified butterflies that reside in northern California will feed on are Phacelia californica. More than one hundred butterfly species inhabit this region.
