Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Herbaceous
Height
1
to
3
ft.
Spread
1
to
3
ft.
Leaf Retention
Deciduous
Lifespan
Annual
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Limestone, Dry
Light Requirement
Sun, Part Shade
Water Requirement
Medium
Native Habitat
Grassland
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
Blue, Purple
Bloom Season
Spring
Seasonal Interest
Nectar
Wildlife Benefit
Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Bees
Maintenance
Does best if protected from the west sun. The foliage can produce a minor rash for some people. Usually grows in large colonies. Prefers prairies, meadows, woodland edges, ditches. Propagation: Seed.
Comments
Blooms March-May. Blue Curls will grow as an annual or biennial herb depending on local conditions. The purple to lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers grow in slender, coiled clusters which uncurl as the buds develop. Leaves are soft and deeply lobed. Attracts: butterflies and bees.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Phacelia congesta var. dissecta
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 162. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHCO2. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Phacelia+congesta&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=5560&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=31473#null