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California bluebells are a beautiful cobalt blue that add nice glow to the flower garden and landscape, in general. These native wildflowers are tiny, just 1 inch across, but they bloom in small groupings that bring out their magical appeal. They’re especially beloved because they are a spring flower and are a bright and beautiful welcome to the new season.
California bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) are desert flowers from the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of southern California. They have coarsely toothed, dark green leaves covered with fine hairs that add a nice texture to the garden bed even when they’re not in bloom. When they do bloom, the bell-shaped flowers rise elegantly on long, reddish stems that last for about 4 weeks.
The intense sapphire blue color of these flowers, paired with the contrasting golden anthers, makes them particularly showy. These desert natives bloom naturally in February and March in their own region, but if you live outside the desert, the timing will be a little different. These flowers are also known as Desert Bluebells.
We have these flowers available! Check out our California Bluebell Wildflower Seeds
All The Reasons To Love California Bluebells
California bluebells are remarkable because they can really adapt to harsh conditions. Since they’re native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, they must be resilient plants to thrive. These deserts are very dry, sandy places below 4,000 feet in elevation. The ability of these flowers to flourish in inhospitable environments makes them particularly valuable. These are tough yet beautiful flowers.
These are also one of the few wildflowers that naturally produce a truly vibrant blue color (the compound phacelianin creates their distinctive cobalt-blue hue). This intense color is exceptionally rare in nature, and just another reason to adore these flowers.
The California bluebell has tiny, striking bell-shaped flowers that are just 1 inch wide. Each little flower has golden anthers that create a beautiful contrast against the deep blue petals. The leaves are oval to rounded with toothed edges, and the stems are reddish. The stems and leaves have a covering of fine, glandular hairs.
The California bluebell grows as a stiff, erect, leafy plant between 8 and 16 inches in height. If the conditions are right, these flowers can bloom in huge groupings, creating breathtaking masses of rich blue. Even when they bloom in small numbers, the contrast of bright blue flowers with golden anthers atop long, skinny reddish stems is quite remarkable to see.
These flowers are also excellent pollinator magnets. They attract native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to your garden.
California bluebells work beautifully in rock gardens, between paving stones, in front of flower beds, and even as narrow strips between vegetable rows. Despite their delicate appearance, these tough annuals offer a month-long display of stunning blue flowers.
Bringing the Desert Home: Planting Tips
These striking annuals need full sun exposure. They’ll need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They will grow quickly in soil that is quick-draining, like soil that is sandy or mixed with fine gravel to mimic their desert origins. They can handle various soil types as long as drainage is excellent. California bluebells are naturally resistant to drought and cold weather, but still, in areas outside the desert, they will only be annuals. They are not frost or severe cold-resistant.
Rock gardens, borders, spaces between paving stones, and even container gardens are ideal spots to grow these flowers. Their height makes them perfect for front-of-border placements. These hardy plants also work beautifully in wildflower mixes or tucked between vegetable rows.
How to grow California bluebells from seed
- Sow seeds in late fall (around November) for early spring blooms. Or, in early spring, 2-4 weeks before the last frost.
- Remove any weeds so the flowers don’t have competition.
- Sprinkle the seeds over the soil surface - they require light to germinate, so never cover them. It’s good to walk over them, though, to press them into the soil. Or, you can space them about 12 inches apart for a more structured appearance.
- Water lightly after planting and let nature handle the rest.
- California bluebells are fast growers. The entire growth cycle typically takes about 10-12 weeks.
- Seeds will begin germinating within 5-10 days when conditions are right.
- First, tiny seedlings emerge and spend 2-4 weeks establishing themselves.
- Next, the plants develop their characteristic hairy, toothed leaves.
- The flowering stage begins 6-10 weeks after sprouting.
- Once seedlings reach 2-3 inches tall, thin them to about 6-8 inches apart.
While California bluebells are naturally drought-tolerant, they benefit from occasional watering during their growing season. Avoid overwatering, though - these desert natives prefer their soil on the drier side. For continued flowering, regularly remove spent blooms.
Best companion plants for desert bluebells
- California Poppies grown with bluebells create a stunning orange contrast that intensifies the blue. These plants actually grow naturally together in the wild.
- Lupines provide complementary purple tones.
- Clarkia for bursts of pink and magenta to contrast the blue
- Tidy Tips for cheerful intermingled yellow and blue borders
Common Questions About Growing California Bluebells
Do California bluebells reseed?
California bluebells naturally produce seeds and return year after year when they’re in the desert. In more temperate locations, they may need to be planted every year.
However, usually these flowers will happily reseed themselves at the end of the growing season. The seeds will spread, and the flowers will naturalize over time. To prevent self-seeding, deadhead the flowers after they’re spent to stop the seeds from falling.
Are California bluebells perennials or annuals?
California bluebells are true annuals, completing their entire life cycle within a single growing season.