Phacelia cicutaria, with the common names caterpillar phacelia or caterpillar scorpionweed, is an annual species of Phacelia.
It is native to California, southern Nevada, and Baja California. It grows mainly in chaparral habitats, frequently in burnt areasDale 1986, pg. 124 or on rocky slopes.
Description Phacelia cicutaria is an upright annual shrub growing up to 0.6 m (2') high. Its foliage is deeply lobed, 2–15 cm (1-6") long, with spiked segments.Jepson Manual 1993
The flower buds are held in tight, hairy coils which uncoil as the flowers open one by one. The flowering stems' resemblance of caterpillars lends this plant its common name. Flowers appear between March and May and are dirty-white to pale lavender in color.
Cultivation Phacelia cicutaria is cultivated as an ornamental plant, in native plant and wildlife gardens, and for natural landscaping designs and habitat restoration projects. Its drought tolerance makes it well suited for water conserving gardens.
It can be propagated by seed, germination of which may be stimulated with aqueous extracts of charred wood, or the charred wood itself.Baskin 2002
References
Further reading Dale, Nancy; Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Capra Press, 1986 Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of container Phacelia cicutaria Greene plants
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment — Phacelia cicutaria Calflora database: Phacelia cicutaria Phacelia cicutaria — U.C. Photo gallery