Phacelia Blue

Phacelia Blue — variety description

Phacelia Blue (Phacelia campanularia) is an annual herb of the Borage family (Boraginaceae). Phacelia forms stunning dark blue flowers with white dots at the base of the petals.

The plant is a heat-tolerant, spring- and summer-flowering annual from the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of California.

Easy to grow, phacelia adds a charming blue colour to the wildflower garden or rockery.

Phacelia is one of the strongest honey plants and an excellent green manure — it improves the soil and attracts beneficial insects.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 85%
• Seeds per packet: 578–782 pcs (0.4 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: April and May; direct
• Flowering: July – October
• Harvest: June – October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Phacelia Blue

Phacelia Blue seeds are sown in April and May. The plants flower from July to October. Harvest in June – October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Phacelia Blue

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 1–2 cm
• Spacing: broadcast or in rows 15 cm apart
• Germination: 5–10 days at 10–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

The plant does well in poor sandy soil and makes a lovely pot plant. The flowers take a long time to form. They grow to about 25 cm in height. Sow outdoors at a depth of 1 mm in short drills in rows 30 cm apart. The ideal temperature is 10-14°C. Germination takes 14-28 days. Prefers very dry soil. Requires little attention. Sowing: spring Flowering: July–Oct.

Sow from March to August on any soil; it flowers 6–8 weeks after sowing.

Harvest and use

As a green manure — mow and dig in before flowering.

Frequently asked questions

When should Phacelia Blue be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April and May. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 578–782 seeds, pack size 0.4 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 85%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

When is phacelia sown as a green manure?

From March to September; it is dug in 6–8 weeks after sowing, before the seeds ripen.