Status Lacy phacelia may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture, also known as the Agriculture Department, is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricult…
Is lacy phacelia a native plant?
Phacelia is considered to be a native plant. The two hundred species of phacelia are native to North and South America, and include annual, biennial and perennial plants. Other common names for phacelia include blue tansy, purple tansy and scorpion plant. Lacy phacelia is considered to be a wildflower.
Is lacy phacelia poisonous to humans?
Some species of Phacelia have irritating hairs, but not lacy phacelia. Nor is it toxic to humans or pets. It’s sometimes grown, mixed with other plants, as fodder for livestock. Lacy phacelia seedling. Photo: Rasbak, Wikimedia Commons
Is Phacelia toxic or invasive?
Is Phacelia Invasive? Some species, such as Phacelia tanacetifolia (Lacy Phacelia), may become invasive in some regions or habitats. Is Phacelia Poisonous? Phacelia is generally not considered toxic. However, some species can cause skin irritation similar to that of Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum).
Why is lacy phacelia sown between apple trees?
In some orchards lacy phacelia is sown in rows between the trees to control such pests as apple and plum worms.
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Is Lacy Phacelia a perennial?
Is Phacelia Annual Or Perennial? The many species of phacelia include annual, biennial and perennial plants. Lacy phacelia is an annual flower, however Silky phacelia is a perennial.
Is bees friend flower invasive?
In addition to being a pollinator-friendly flower, Bee's Friend can be grown as a cover crop, to protect and enrich the soil. Use it in your vegetable garden to attract the “good” bugs that will eat the “bad” bugs. Once planted, Phacelia is a self-seeder, but is not invasive.
Is purple tansy invasive?
It both reseeds readily and spreads by underground rhizomes, so a flirtation with a few tansy plants could soon turn into a more permanent arrangement than you originally envisaged. In some parts of North America tansy is so invasive it's actually listed as a noxious weed and is not permitted.
Where is Lacy Phacelia native?
It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, but it is now used in many places in agriculture as a cover crop, a bee plant, an attractant for other beneficial insects, and an ornamental plant.
Why do farmers grow Phacelia?
Phacelia is a rapidly growing, high biomass plant. It is a nitrogen holder and weed suppressor. Its eye catching purple flowers are particularly good at attracting bees and other beneficial insects. Used as a soil improving green manure.
Does Phacelia attract bees?
Phacelia is a wonderful plant for attracting bees and other beneficial insects, particularly useful in early spring if it has overwintered as it is an early pollen source for bees coming out of hibernation.
Why is phacelia a good cover crop?
Phacelia has a dense shallow root system that is able to improve soil structure. Narrow leaves and fine stems allow the plant to have low water usage and is quite drought tolerant. It is quite shade tolerant and will stay green well into late fall.
Is phacelia a native plant?
Phacelia tanacetifolia is native to the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is most common in the deserts of southern California at elevations below 1,500 m (5,000 ft), but may be occasionally found at much higher elevations.
Is phacelia poisonous to dogs?
Lacy phacelia is considered non-toxic, but it is a nitrate accumulator and should be used in a mix when fed to livestock.
Is Phacelia tanacetifolia a wildflower?
Additional lacy phacelia info says purple tansy wildflowers bloom from April through July. They're often found growing in ditches, along roadsides, and in open meadows. You can plant them from seeds.
Is lacy phacelia deer resistant?
Attracts scores of beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps and minute pirate bugs. It provides insects with both pollen and nectar. Deer resistant!
How big does Phacelia grow?
between 70cm to 1m tallThey are a bushy, annual, with dark-green, feathery leaves. This beautiful annual grows to a height of between 70cm to 1m tall and has very few branches. The Lacy phacelia has fluffy blue-purple flowers and is a heavy nectar producer.
What is Lacy Phacelia?
The lacy phacelia flower is a 1 to 3 foot (0.5-1 m .), leggy wildflower with a bloom that looks similar to thistle. It is a heavy nectar producer. An attractive addition to the ornamental bed, you might want to plant some of the purple tansy wildflower to attract pollinators. In fact, you might want to plant several.
Where do lacy phacelia flowers grow?
The lacy phacelia flower grows best in sunny spots where soil is poor, rocky or sandy. If the soil in your flower beds has been amended, try growing the purple tansy wildflower outside of the garden, but close enough that bees and butterflies can conveniently pollinate the garden blooms. Printer Friendly Version.
Why is lacy phacelia called honey?
Lacy Phacelia Info. Lacy phacelia info says the plant is well-known for its ability to attract bees and butterflies to an area. Some refer to the lacy phacelia flower as the honey plant, as it is one of the top 20 flowers used in the natural production of honey. There appears to be a shortage of pollinators for the garden because ...
How to grow purple Tansy?
Try growing purple tansy wildflower in containers that can be moved around the garden as different areas need pollination. This may help control the spread of the wildflower too. Be sure to include this plant in areas designed to attract butterflies and in water-wise gardens.
Does Lacy Phacelia attract bees?
Lacy phacelia growing in or near the garden not only attracts bees, but butterflies as well. Include the purple tansy wildflower near vegetable and ornamental gardens for bigger blooms and vegetables. Lacy phacelia growing is sometimes used in almond orchards for this purpose.
What is Lacy Phacelia?
Phacelia tanacetifoli a is an annual flower native to the southwestern United States and Mexico that belongs to either the Boraginaceae or Hydrophyllaceae family (botanical opinions differ). It is now sometimes found naturalized near agricultural fields in temperate regions elsewhere in the world.
How to grow lacy phacelia?
Normally, you’d sow lacy phacelia seeds outdoors either late in the fall (the seeds are frost resistant) for germination the following spring or in the spring while the soil is still cool. Sow the seeds about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) apart and about ¼ inch (5 mm) deep, making sure to cover them with soil, as they only germinate in darkness. Germination is most successful when the soil is on the cool side, between 40 and 68° F (5 and 20° C) and decreases at higher temperatures. It will come into bloom in around 45 to 60 days.
What does "tancetifolia" mean?
Photo: Salicyna, Wikimedia Commons. Its epithet tancetifolia means “tansy leaved ” and refers to the fact that the alternate mid-green leaves are deeply cut much like those of the herb tansy ( Tanacteum vulgare ).
How long does it take for phacelia to bloom?
It will come into bloom in around 45 to 60 days. You can also sow phacelia indoors in pots or trays about 4 weeks before the last frost date for transplanting in the garden.
What is a tansy leafed phacelia?
Tansy-leaved phacelia is often used as a cover crop. Photo: Gilles San Martin, Wikimedia Commons. Tansy-leaved phacelia is well known among beekeepers as a honey plant and provides a delicious, very fragrant honey sold as phacelia honey. It is also used as a cover crop or green manure in farmers’ fields.
What is phacelia used for?
It is also used as a cover crop or green manure in farmers’ fields. Phacelia can also be used to attract beneficial insects other than pollinators, including predatory wasps that feed on common garden pests. For example, several parasitic wasps feed on it as adults, then lay their eggs on or in pest species.
Where does Lacy Phacelia grow?
It’s a member of the genus Phacelia genus of some 150 species, all native to the New World. In the wild, lacy phacelia grows in full sun, often in poor, sandy or rocky and sometimes alkaline soils under considerable aridity, but it has been shown to adapt well in cultivation to soils of most kinds that aren’t too acidic (a pH between 6.0 and 8.5), as long as a drainage is good. Also, it will grow quite well in partial shade, not just in sun.
How big can a phacelia grow?
Phacelia can grow up to 120 cm (4 ft) high.
What does phacelia mean?
Phacelia (Scorpionweed) Phacelia. (Scorpionweed) Name Meaning. Flower Symbolism. Interesting Facts. Plant Data. Phacelia is a genus of about 60 species in the family Boraginaceae, native to North and South America. They develop purple or blue flowers arranged in short clusters or fascicles.
What is the name of the plant that grows in a curling scorpion tail?
The common name Scorpionweed refers to the flower clusters that grow in a curling scorpion tail formation.
Is phacelia related to borege?
Phacelia is closely related to Borage because of its hairy leaves and stems and attractiveness to bees. Both species are used as cover crops for the enrichment of agricultural soils. Although they belong to the same family of plants (Boraginaceae), their general appearance is not so similar.
Is Phacelia Poisonous?
Phacelia is generally not considered toxic. However, some species can cause skin irritation similar to that of Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum).
How to grow Lacy Phacelia?
closeup of Lacy phacelia seeds. 2. Direct Sowing Into The Garden. Phacelia grows well when direct seeded into the garden. If you decide to sow your seeds directly into the garden, make sure to prepare the planting area. Clear away all vegetation, and prepare the area for the seeds by loosening up the soil.
Why do we buy Lacy Phacelia seeds?
We bought Lacy phacelia seeds for the bees and pollinators.
What Does Phacelia Grow Well With?
Phacelia grows well with other plants that you would like to attract pollinators to.
Should I Deadhead Phacelia?
Phacelia readily self seeds, so if you are trying to prevent self seeding, dead heading is certainly an option.
What zone does phacelia grow in?
Phacelia grows well from zones 2 to 10.
What are some other names for phacelia?
Other common names for phacelia include blue tansy, purple tansy and scorpion plant.
Why do we grow phacelia?
We decided to grow phacelia in our garden to attract the bees. What we didn’t realize was how interesting the phacelia flower actually is! The flowers slowly unfurl to reveal sweet smelling spiky purple blossoms that reach up towards the sky. Learn how to grow phacelia, and enjoy this special plant in your own garden.
Where is Lacy Phacelia native to?
Lacy phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia, is a cool season annual forb, native to the southwestern United States, (Arizona and California) and northern Mexico, but not native to Montana and Wyoming. It has several alternate common names including lacy scorpion-weed, tansy leaf phacelia, blue tansy, and purple tansy. Phacelia is listed in the top 20 pollen producing flowers for honeybees, and is highly attractive to pollinator insects including bumblebees and hoverflies. It provides a source of high quality nectar and pollen. It also is desired as a cut plant for its persistence in floral arrangements.
How long does it take for Lacy Phacelia to germinate?
Lacy phacelia seeds germinate readily in 15 to 30 days without treatment . Germination is inhibited by light and temperature, so plant seeds ¼-inch deep and plant when soil temperatures are below 68o F. Soil temperatures can vary greatly depending on location and should be considered when planning late spring or summer plantings.
Does lacy phacelia produce biomass?
Lacy phacelia produces relatively abundant biomass, especially in temperate climates. The biomass, however, breaks down quickly, and may not increase long-term soil organic matter. The decomposition of lacy phacelia residue can be slowed by growing this species in combination with a cereal grain or other durable residue species.
Is Lacy Phacelia a good pollinator?
Lacy phacelia is an excellent pollinator attractant, but when planted in large solid stands, may deter pollination of other target species. Lacy phacelia readily self-seeds, so termination before seed set will be needed to limit volunteer plants from establishing.
Common Name (s)
Scorpian weed is an annual widely used in Europe, and is gaining traction in the US, with feathery leaves and fiddle-head clusters of purple blooms that make it very attractive to pollinators. It is often used in the seed mix of a cover crop. It propagates easily from seed, just sow directly on top of the soil after the last frost.
Previously known as
Scorpian weed is an annual widely used in Europe, and is gaining traction in the US, with feathery leaves and fiddle-head clusters of purple blooms that make it very attractive to pollinators. It is often used in the seed mix of a cover crop. It propagates easily from seed, just sow directly on top of the soil after the last frost.
