Phacelia Seeds

Phacelia tanacetifolia, known as lacy phacelia, purple tansy or fiddleneck, is one of the most loved bee plants in the world. This native annual carries soft, fern-like foliage topped with coiled (scorpioid) sprays of bell-shaped flowers in blue-to-purplish tones that open in sequence over weeks. Reaching 30-90 cm tall, it is grown both as an ornamental and as a pollinator magnet that draws bees, hoverflies and beneficial wasps to the garden.

Planting

Direct-sow in place rather than transplanting. Scatter the seed thinly onto a firm, weed-free seedbed and cover it lightly to about 3-6 mm deep, pressing it into the soil for good contact; light partly inhibits germination, so a thin cover matters. Choose a full-sun spot in fertile, well-drained soil. Seedlings emerge in roughly 7-30 days when soil is cool (4-20°C); germination fails above about 30°C. Thin plants to around 10-20 cm apart.

Fertilizing

Little to no feeding is needed. Phacelia thrives in nutrient-poor soils and even scavenges nitrogen as a green manure. On overly rich ground it makes leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so avoid adding manure, compost or fertiliser before bloom.

Care

Keep the surface consistently moist until seedlings emerge, then water sparingly; it is drought tolerant once established and dislikes waterlogged soil. Flowering begins about 6-8 weeks after sowing and lasts up to two months; sow again every two weeks to extend bloom. It is largely pest-free, but wear gloves as the foliage can irritate skin.