Phacelia cicutaria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phacelia cicutaria |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phacelia
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| Species: |
cicutaria
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| Subspecies | |
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P. cicutaria var. cicutaria |
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Phacelia cicutaria, also known as caterpillar phacelia or caterpillar scorpionweed, is a cool annual plant. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, makes new seeds, and then dies, all in one year. It is a type of plant from the Phacelia group.
You can find this plant growing naturally in California, southern Nevada, and Baja California in Mexico. It mostly grows in chaparral areas, which are places with tough shrubs and bushes. You might often see it in spots where there has been a fire or on rocky hillsides.
What Does It Look Like?
The caterpillar phacelia is an upright plant that can grow up to about 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall. Its leaves are quite interesting! They are deeply cut or "lobed," almost like a fern, and can be 2 to 15 centimeters (1 to 6 inches) long. Each leaf has spiky parts.
The flower buds of this plant are held in tight, hairy coils. As the flowers open, these coils slowly unroll, one by one. This uncoiling stem looks a lot like a fuzzy caterpillar! That is how this plant got its unique common name.
The flowers themselves usually appear between March and May. They can be a dirty-white color or a pale lavender.
Growing This Plant
People sometimes grow Phacelia cicutaria as an ornamental plant. This means it is grown just because it looks pretty! It is also popular in native plant gardens, which focus on plants that naturally grow in a certain area.
It is also used in wildlife gardens to help local animals. People use it for natural landscaping and projects that help bring back natural habitats. This plant does not need much water, so it is great for xeriscaping, which is gardening that saves water.
You can grow this plant from its seeds. Sometimes, burning wood or using liquid from burned wood can help the seeds sprout faster.
