What is the use of phacelia?
Phacelia is effective at preventing nitrogen leaching and suppressing weeds, due to its fast establishment. Although not known as a deep rooted species, its dense zone of shallow roots are very good at conditioning the top 3-4cm of soil. It’s a good source of pollen and nectar for pollinators and other beneficals. Phacelia is used in the UK as a brood rearing crop. Its purple flowers have the tremendous ability to attract a large array of insects. In the summer you can hear a crop of phacelia buzzing.Phacelia does not fix nitrogen but is a very rapidly growing annual nitrogen holder. It is particularly good at attracting bees, hoverflies, and wasps.Harvesting. Phacelia can be pulled up and composted any time. Pull up individual plants grown for flowers before they shed seeds.Phacelia is used in the UK as a brood rearing crop. Its purple flowers have the tremendous ability to attract a large array of insects. In the summer you can hear a crop of phacelia buzzing.
What is the common name for phacelia?
Common phacelia (Phacelia distans) is an annual herb that blooms in the spring. It is also known by the common names blue phacelia and wild scorpionweed, since the clusters of flowers are composed of pale lavender to violet-blue individual flowers arranged in a coil that resembles a curled scorpion’s tail. Phacelia tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae, known by the common names lacy phacelia, tansy-leaf phacelia, blue tansy, purple tansy or fiddleneck (UK).Common phacelia (Phacelia distans) is an annual herb that blooms in the spring. It is also known by the common names blue phacelia and wild scorpionweed, since the clusters of flowers are composed of pale lavender to violet-blue individual flowers arranged in a coil that resembles a curled scorpion’s tail.
Does phacelia self seed?
A member of the borage family (Boraginaceae) Phacelia tanacetifolia is a hardy annual from California and northwest Mexico. In the United Kingdom it will grow through winter and flower from spring through to autumn. In a sunny position it will self seed. Phacelia is effective at preventing nitrogen leaching and suppressing weeds, due to its fast establishment. Although not known as a deep rooted species, its dense zone of shallow roots are very good at conditioning the top 3-4cm of soil. It’s a good source of pollen and nectar for pollinators and other beneficals.Phacelia is a North American plant that is a common component of green manure, wildflower and pollintor seedmixes, and occasionally persists for a while outside the crop or sown area; increasing (ref. Stace 4th edition). Formerly uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland where it was first recorded in 1999.