Varileaf Phacelia

Varileaf phacelia is a perennial wildflower native to western North America, commonly found in open woods, rocky slopes, and dry forest edges. It has slender, branching stems with soft, hairy leaves that vary in shape along the plant, giving it a loose, airy appearance. Tiny cream to white bell-shaped flowers bloom in coiled clusters in spring and early summer and are highly attractive to native bees and other pollinators. This species is drought-tolerant once established and is well-suited for restoration plantings in well-drained soils. While the flowers look relatively plain to humans, they are prized by a huge range of native pollinators including bumblebees, sweat bees, hoverflies, wasps, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.