Phacelia
A genus of herbaceous plants with coiled flower clusters, often grown for bees
Phacelia is a group of around 200 annual and perennial herb species native to the Americas. Many kinds are grown in gardens or as bee forage, and some can cause skin irritation from their glandular hairs.
- Over 90 species occur in California alone
- Flower clusters uncoil like a scorpion's tail
- Glandular hairs on some species cause skin rashes
- Specialist bee Andrena phaceliae relies on it
- Used as a cover crop and bee forage plant
What does Phacelia look like?
Plants in the Phacelia genus have soft, hairy stems and leaves. Their flowers grow in tight, curling clusters that unroll as they bloom, resembling a scorpion’s tail, hence the name scorpionweed. The blooms are usually small and tubular.
Where does Phacelia come from?
Phacelia species are originally from the Americas, with the greatest diversity found in California, where more than 90 types occur. The genus belongs to the Hydrophyllaceae family, though its exact placement has been debated by botanists using genetic data.
When and how Phacelia blooms
These plants grow as either annuals or perennials, depending on the species. They thrive in open, often dry habitats and are commonly sown in fields or gardens to support pollinators, especially bees that rely on them for food.
How Phacelia is used
Many Phacelia species are planted to feed honeybees and other pollinators. Some are used in gardens for their attractive flower spikes. However, the sticky hairs on certain types can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
What Phacelia means
The mining bee Andrena phaceliae depends almost entirely on Phacelia flowers in the eastern United States. Despite their beauty and ecological value, some species contain oils like geranylhydroquinone that can irritate human skin.
Traditions that use it
Questions people ask about Phacelia
Where does Phacelia come from?
It is native to North and South America, with the highest number of species found in California.
Why is it called scorpionweed?
Because its flower clusters start tightly coiled like a scorpion’s tail and gradually unfurl as they bloom.
Is Phacelia safe to handle?
Some species have glandular hairs that secrete oils causing contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
How is Phacelia used by people?
It is grown in gardens and fields to support bees and other pollinators, and sometimes as an ornamental plant.
What family does Phacelia belong to?
It is placed in the Hydrophyllaceae family, though some classifications merge this into Boraginaceae based on genetic studies.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Phacelia", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryPhool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
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