Distant Phacelia (Phacelia distans) is in the borage family family (Boraginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,595 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Nationally it blooms mainly from February to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Distant Phacelia: observations by month (U.S.)
About Distant Phacelia
Phacelia distans is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae, known by the common names distant phacelia and distant scorpionweed. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in many types of habitat, including forest, woodland, chaparral, grassland, and meadows.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Distant Phacelia by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,432 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Arizona | 146 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 17 | March | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (borage family)
Virginia bluebells
Pacific hound's tongue
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Miami Mist
Alkali Heliotrope
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Wild Canterbury Bells
Desert Bluebells
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Distant Phacelia?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from February to April.
Where is Distant Phacelia most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Nevada.