Phacelia tanacetifolia (Fiddleneck)

Native to the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico, Phacelia tanacetifolia (Fiddleneck) is a terrific beneficial insect plant and one of the best bee plants. It is also very ornamental with its abundant and long-lasting fiddlehead clusters of lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers with long stamens that gracefully extend well beyond the flowers. Blooming from late spring to early fall (up to 5 months!), they rise elegantly above the fine, feathery, tansy-like foliage.

This hardy annual plant is a great garden asset, planted to attract pollinators, as well as predators and parasites of insect pests. It also creates a dense carpet that shades and holds the soil, allowing moisture to trickle through.

• Fast grower, up to 1-4 ft. tall (30-120 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm), it thrives in full sun and prefers poor, rocky, sandy, well-drained soils.
• Low maintenance and highly disease and pest-free, this plant is also drought tolerant.
• An excellent choice for mixed borders, cottage gardens, city gardens, wildlife gardens, or prairie gardens. Great as fresh-cut flowers with unusual and attractive blooms, strong stems, and long vase life (up to 5 days).
• Highly attractive to bumblebees and syrphid (hover) flies (regarded as one of the top 20 honey-producing flowers for honeybees). Syrphid fly larvae are voracious feeders of aphids and young caterpillars.
• Attracts scores of beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps and minute pirate bugs. It provides insects with both pollen and nectar. Deer resistant!
• Plant in early spring or fall in mild winter areas. Can reappear year after year by self-seeding
• Contact with skin may cause irritation
• Native to the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico.