# Oceanblue Phacelia (*Phacelia ranunculacea*) The Oceanblue Phacelia is a beautiful flower with bright blue petals. It grows in sunny places and attracts lots of friendly bees and butterflies. This flower loves to dance in the breeze! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Oceanblue Phacelia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phacelia_ranunculacea.JPG&width=800) Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phacelia_ranunculacea.JPG) ## Appearance The Oceanblue Phacelia has striking blue-violet, bell-shaped flowers clustered along one side of arching stems. Its delicate blooms often feature prominent stamens, giving them a wispy appearance, standing out against its hairy, green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Hydrophyllaceae - **Genus:** Phacelia ## Interesting facts - Its flower clusters famously curl up like a scorpion's tail before they burst open! - Some people call it "scorpionweed" because of its unique, coiled flower spikes! - The scientific name "Phacelia" means "bundle," for its tight clusters of flowers! - Tiny sticky hairs on its leaves and stems can sometimes trap small insects! ## Special abilities - **Hairy Defense:** Oceanblue Phacelia has tiny, bristly hairs covering its stems and leaves that help deter hungry herbivores from taking a bite! - **Unfurling Wonder:** Oceanblue Phacelia's flower stalks coil like a scorpion's tail, slowly unfurling to reveal new bell-shaped blooms over time! - **Dry Soil Survivor:** Oceanblue Phacelia can thrive in poor, rocky, and sandy soils, using less water than many other plants! ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.8-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — An important native pollinator. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse foliage, despite hairs. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oceanblue Phacelia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Oceanblue Phacelia? 10-40 cm ### How wide does Oceanblue Phacelia spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Oceanblue Phacelia? 0.8-1.5 cm ### When does Oceanblue Phacelia bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is Oceanblue Phacelia edible? No ### Is Oceanblue Phacelia toxic? Mild ### What is Oceanblue Phacelia's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Cairo Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cairo-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Fort Defiance](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-defiance) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [T.O. Fuller State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/t-o-fuller-state-park) — Tennessee, US · State Park - [Chucalissa Archaeological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chucalissa-archaeological-park) — Tennessee, US · Park [View all places to see Oceanblue Phacelia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oceanblue-phacelia) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Oceanblue Phacelia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oceanblue-phacelia)