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It seems there is another blue wildflower that likes to be noticed other than our beautiful Texas Bluebonnet. Blue Curls (Phacelia congesta), also called Fiddlenecks and Caterpillars is predominately an understory plant.
In the Hill Country it really prefers the shade provided by our live oaks. These beautiful plants also grow in the shade of pecan trees as well as in full sun along highways and fence lines. Resources say that it likes dry rocky or sandy sites but I have seen it growing in nice loamy bottomland soil too.
Blue Curls can be found in most of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. It won’t be the first wildflower blooming but it definitely finishes before the weather gets hot so you can enjoy them March – May. If you want to get the longest bloom time then you will need to give them a little shelter from the blazing west sun, and make sure they get plenty of moisture in a site that is well drained.
Just like the name suggests it has a beautiful blue color that is quite spectacular in big colonies. The buds are curled up radiating out from a center point. They look like the tentacles of an octopus or a curled up caterpillar. As the tiny bell shaped flowers open the curled stems gently unroll. The flowers have 5 tiny petals which are deeply lobed and have protruding stamens tipped with a yellow ball that are quite noticeable.
When mature, the plant is between 12 – 36 inches tall with soft deeply cut leaves that give them a ragged appearance. The stems are quite brittle and will break easily. Blue Curls, like other Phacelias (such as Gyp Blue Curls & Purple Phacelias), grows easily from seed and can be planted in meadows and gardens.
This plant is deer resistant and a must-have for any bee or butterfly enthusiast because of the abundant nectar it produces.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: znobia
