Phacelia tanacetifolia – “Lacy Phacelia”

Also Known As: Tansy Leafed Phacelia
Family: Waterleaf (Hydrophyllaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-May
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly soils
Leaves: Pinnately-compound and intricately lobed: “lacy”; alternate
Translation: “Phacelia” is Greek for “a cluster,” which refers to the crowded flowers in many species of this genus; “tanacetifolia” is Latin for “leaves like Tansy,” which is a plant with similar leaves.
Notes: Often mixed up with Distant Phacelia. Main differences: Leaves are more finely serrated (fern-like or lacy), flowers are persistent (so several to many are often blooming at once), and anthers are quite long. A cultivar of this species is popular in flower gardens, where it is known as “Bee’s Friend.”
Native American Uses: The Kawaiisu steamed and ate the greens of the closely-related Distant Phacelia. I suspect they also included this plant in their diet since, unlike contemporary botanists, they were probably not painstakingly distinguishing between the two species by splitting hairs (or anthers, as the case may be!).
Animal Associations: Nectar source for bees, including Honey Bees.