California Bluebells
Phacelia campanularia
Desert plant of southern California with blue or violet tubular flowers in terminal racemes. Annual of southern California with intricately branched stems and lax cymes of aromatic deep blue bell-shaped flowers.
Synonyms: Desert Bluebells, desertbells
The California blue bell (#ad), as this name shows, is from southern California, and adjusts to gardens or wildflower plantings easily. Phacelia is from the Greek word phakelos for cluster, relating to the cluster of flowers the plants has.
California blue bells grow about 8 inches high with a divided, open form. They possess triangular-shaped leaves and blue bell-like flowers. The stamens protrude beyond the flower, looking like the metal striker of a bell.
They grow best in full sun in dry, sandy soil while they will endure other circumstances if they have good drainage. They flower best with cool, dry, sunny weather in the spring and decrease in the hot, humid conditions of summer. Place plants 6 to 8 inches apart. Set in regions shielded from high winds or have them staked. Stakes are to be put in the ground when plants are small, and will be out of sight when the foliage grows about them.
Propagating by seed. In temperate winter conditions, seeds can be planted outdoors in the fall for the earliest blossoms.
In or to another place, seed as early in the spring as the ground can be cultivated. Thin them to the correct spacing soon after they spring up. For earliest bloom, kickoff plants inside 6 to 8 weeks before planting them outside soon as the risk of frost has gone by. Seeds sprout in 8 to 15 days at temps of 60 to 70 degrees F. Raising them in peat flowerpots will help transplanting.
Uses for California blue bells are good in casual conditions. Plant them in batches for the prevalent blue tones they furnish. Also, grow phacelias in earthy gardens and wildflower fields.
Scientific name of California blue bells (#ad): Phacelia campanularia
Is an annual from the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, usually domesticated as an ornamental.
Family is Hydrophyllaceae
Hardiness is USDA Zone 7a to 10b
pH requirements are 6.1 mildly acidic to 7.8 mildly alkaline
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