Plant DetailShow Menu

Phacelia bipinnatifida is often confused with:
Hydrophyllum virginianum Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola pedata Viola pedata
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea

Phacelia bipinnatifida

Phonetic Spelling
fa-SEE-lee-uh by-pin-uh-TIFF-ih-duh
Description

Purple phacelia is a biennial wildflower in the borage family (Boraginaceae) that is native to the southeast USA. It is common the mountains of NC and rare in the western Piedmont. The plant can be found in cool mountainous areas in rocky forests, along streams and slopes, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

This wildflower will grow 1-3 feet tall and spread 1-3 feet wide. It prefers partial shade to shade to dappled shade conditions in moist well-drained acidic soil with some organic matter but will tolerate poorer soils and some alkalinity. Propagation is by seed but this plant will easily self-seed and seedlings can be transplanted to a desired area in spring. This plant doesn't bloom until the second year, then dies shortly after setting seed.

In early to late spring, purple phacelia produces masses of purple flowers in clusters of 4-12. Flowering lasts for about a month. The compound leaves are attractive also.

Use this plant as a ground cover in a shady to partly shady area and allow it plenty of room to spread. The flowers attract pollinators and provide early-season color for the shade.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Leaves may be eaten by beetles

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Shaded Slope
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple flowers#nectar plant#spring flowers#small mammals#specialized bees#NC native#pollinator plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#shade tolerant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple flowers#nectar plant#spring flowers#small mammals#specialized bees#NC native#pollinator plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#Audubon#shade tolerant#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phacelia
    Species:
    bipinnatifida
    Family:
    Boraginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South eastern USA
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MO , MS , NC , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Members of the genus Phacelia support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Micrandrena) lamelliterga, Andrena (Euandrena) phaceliae, Hoplitis (Robertsonella) simplex.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Capsules appear in June.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Racemes of 4-12 blue to purple flowers are produced from April to May. Individual flowers are 1/2 incross with 5-lobed corolla, 5 sepals, 5 stamens, a slender style, and an ovary. The racemes occur at the top of stems with some secondary ones forming in the axils of the upper stems.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The compound leaves have 3-5 leaflets that are ovate to oblong, shallow to deeply cleft with toothed margins. Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 3 inches wide. Leaves and stems are hairy
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The light green stems are round and covered with spreading glandular hairs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade