Phacelia

Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) – Annual

A fast-growing, highly attractive pollinator plant with soft purple-blue, fern-like flowers. One of the best nectar producers available—often visibly covered in bees during bloom. Ideal for quickly boosting pollinator activity in small spaces.

Sowing tips:

• Depth: very shallow (surface sow to 3 mm max; lightly press in)
• Germination: 7–14 days
• Spacing: can be sown dense; thinning not required

Coverage (dense sowing): ~20–30 sq ft per 20 g

Growing notes:

• Height: typically 1–3 ft
• Sun: full sun preferred (tolerates partial sun)
• Water: moderate; keep moist during establishment
• Soil: adaptable; prefers well-drained soil

Helpful info:

• Blooms ~6–8 weeks after sowing (very fast turnaround)
• Excellent for filling gaps or short-season planting
• Not winter-hardy; replant each season
• Can be succession planted every 2–3 weeks for continuous bloom
• Does not become invasive and is easy to manage in flowerbeds

General Sowing (Urban / Flowerbeds)

• Timing: Spring through mid-summer
• Prep: Loosen topsoil (2–5 cm), remove weeds
• Seed: Broadcast evenly and lightly press in
• Water: Keep soil consistently moist until established

Tip: Do not bury deeply—poor germination is almost always due to planting too deep