Lacy Phacelia is one of the garden's hidden gems—its intricate, lacy foliage and vibrant violet-blue flowers bloom from June through September, attracting honeybees, bumblebees, and beneficial insects in extraordinary numbers. Also known as Bee's Friend, this stunning wildflower is as functional as it is beautiful—enriching soil as a green manure when turned in, and providing critical season-long forage for pollinators. Once you grow it, you'll find a place for it every year.

Growing Instructions: Direct sow in early spring or fall—phacelia prefers cool temperatures and germinates readily in moist soil. Thin to 6–9 inches. Self-seeds in mild climates, naturalizing beautifully in garden beds, wildflower borders, and around vegetable patches.

• Botanical Name: Phacelia tanacetifolia
• Plant Type: Annual (self-sowing)
• Planting Time: Early spring or fall
• Planting Depth: ⅛–¼ inch
• Spacing: 6–9 inches apart
• Days to Germination: 7–14 days
• Days to First Bloom: 50–60 days
• Bloom Period: June–September
• Mature Height: 18–36 inches
• Light Needs: Full sun
• Water Needs: Low to moderate — drought tolerant
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seed Type: Open-Pollinated
• Bonus: Outstanding pollinator plant; green manure crop; companion plant