Death Valley Phacelia

phacelia vallis-mortae

The Death Valley Phacelia (Phacelia vallis-mortae), often called Death Valley scorpionweed, is a striking desert wildflower native to the southwestern United States. Thriving in the harsh, arid environments of the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, this annual herb brings vibrant life to barren landscapes during the spring. It is characterized by its brilliant lavender-purple, bell-shaped flowers and deeply lobed leaves covered in fine hairs. This resilient plant is an essential component of the desert ecosystem, providing vital early-season resources for native pollinators. Despite its delicate appearance, Death Valley Phacelia is built for survival. It has developed a specialized life cycle that allows it to persist through years of drought as dormant seeds, only to erupt into bloom when rare rains arrive. Its unique beauty and hardy nature make it a highly sought-after sighting for desert hikers and botanists during superbloom events. If you want to identify Death Valley Phacelia in the wild, use the Snappit app.

Habitat: Found in sandy or gravelly washes, desert flats, and rocky slopes, often sheltered beneath desert shrubs within creosote bush and pinyon-juniper communities.

Appearance

This annual herb grows erectly from 15 to 100 centimeters tall, featuring branching stems covered in stiff, bristly hairs and sticky glands. Its leaves are deeply divided into several oblong lobes, appearing dusty green. The most defining feature is the inflorescence: a coiled, scorpion-tail-like cluster of lavender to pale blue, funnel-shaped flowers, each about 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, displaying prominent stamens that extend beyond the petals.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusPhacelia

Death Valley Phacelia

Interesting facts

It is commonly called 'scorpionweed' because the tightly coiled flower clusters curve backward in a shape resembling a scorpion's stinger.

Its seeds have a tough outer coating that requires specific environmental triggers, like abrasion from sandy flash floods, to initiate germination.

Like poison oak, the glandular hairs on its leaves secrete an oil that can cause a severe, itchy skin rash in sensitive individuals.

Special abilities

Seeds can lie dormant in dry soil for years, germinating and blooming rapidly only after sufficient winter rains.

Unrolls its flower spikes sequentially like a scorpion's tail to extend the blooming period and maximize pollination opportunities.

Produces glandular hairs containing irritating oils that prevent desert herbivores from grazing on its leaves.

Measurements & details

Length: 15-100 cm
Weight: 0.01-0.1 kg
Lifespan: 1 years

Diet & Feeding

As a photosynthetic plant, Death Valley Phacelia utilizes sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to synthesize its own sugars.

Primary Foods

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Soil nutrients

Ecological connections

mutualism

Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

Grows under the canopy of this shrub which acts as a nurse plant, providing shade and wind protection.

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Provides crucial nectar and pollen to native desert bees during the spring bloom.

eaten by

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis nelsoni

Occasionally browsed by desert herbivores during dry spells despite the plant's irritating hairs.

Traits

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Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Death Valley Phacelia?

The easiest way to identify Death Valley Phacelia is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Death Valley Phacelia?

15-100 cm

How much does Death Valley Phacelia weigh?

0.01-0.1 kg

How long does Death Valley Phacelia live?

1 years

What does Death Valley Phacelia eat?

As a photosynthetic plant, Death Valley Phacelia utilizes sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to synthesize its own sugars.

Where is Death Valley Phacelia usually found?

Found in sandy or gravelly washes, desert flats, and rocky slopes, often sheltered beneath desert shrubs within creosote bush and pinyon-juniper communities.