Fiddleneck (Phacelia tanacetifolia, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 280 (1835))

Family: Boraginaceae

Author: Benth.

Bibliography: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 280 (1835)

Year: 1835

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Phacelia

Vegetable: False

Observations: California to Mexico (Baja California Norte)

Description

The Fiddleneck, scientifically known as Phacelia tanacetifolia, is a remarkable plant belonging to the Boraginaceae family. This species was first described in the Trans. Linn. Soc. London journal in 1835 by the botanist Benth.

Native to the regions extending from California to Baja California Norte in Mexico, the Fiddleneck thrives in its natural habitat along the western coast of North America. Known for its distinctive, curly flower clusters that are reminiscent of the neck of a fiddle, the plant is a vital part of the local ecosystem. This species is particularly valuable to pollinators like bees, which are attracted to its attractive, nectar-rich blossoms.

The Fiddleneck is often admired for its aesthetic appeal as well, making it popular for use in wildflower gardens and ecological restoration projects. It’s a hardy plant, which contributes to soil health by acting as a cover crop, protecting the soil from erosion, and providing organic matter as it breaks down. This plant’s presence is not only a visual treat but also a boon for biodiversity and agricultural practices.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig honningurt, honningurt
Lit: bitinė facelija
Deu: bueschelblume, büschelschön, büscheschön, phazelie, rainfarn-büschelschön, rainfarn-phazelie, rainfarnblaettrige phazelie
Eng: lacy phacelia, phacelia, facelia, fiddleneck, tansy phacelia, scorpion weed, lacy scorpionweed, tansy scorpionweed
Nld: phacelia
Ita: phacelia con foglie di tanaceto
Fra: phacélie à feuilles de tanaisie, phacelia, phacélie, phacélie à feulles de tanaisie
Spa: facelia
Por: facélia
Ces: facélia vrati, svazenka vrati
Est: harilik keerispea
Swe: honungsfacelia, honungsört
Lav: parast
Hun: varádicslevelű mézontófű
Cym: ffaselia
Lat: phacelia
En: Fiddleneck, Tansy phacelia, Phacelia, Lacy phacelia, Allheal, Self-heal, Lacy scorpionweed, Facelia, Scorpion Weed, Tansy scorpionweed, Bee Food, Lacy scorpion-weed
Be: Фацэлія піжмалістая
Ca: Facèlia
Cs: Svazenka vratičolistá, Facélia vrati, Svazenka vrati
Da: Almindelig Honningurt, Honningurt
Nl: Phacelia, Facelia
Eo: Tanacetfolia facelio
Et: Harilik keerispea
Fi: Aitohunajakukka
Fr: Phacélie, Phacélie à feulles de tanaisie, Phacelia, Phacélie à feuilles de tanaisie
De: Büschelschön, Phazelie, Büschelblume, Bienenfreund, Bienensaug, Phacelie, Rainfarn-Phacelie, Rainfarn-Phazelie, Bueschelblume, Büscheschön, Rainfarn-Büschelschön, Rainfarnblaettrige Phazelie
El: Φακελωτή
Hu: Mézontófű, Varádicslevelű mézontófű
It: Phacelia, Phacelia con foglie di tanaceto
La: Phacelia
Lv: Parast
Lt: Bitinė facelija
Mk: Вратиколисна фацелија
No: Vanlig honningurt
Pl: Facelia błękitna
Pt: Facélia
Ru: Фацелия пижмолистная
Sk: Facélia vratičolistá
Es: Facelia
Sv: Honungsfacelia, Honungsört
Tr: Arı otu
Cy: Ffaselia

Synonyms

• Phacelia tanacetifolia alba (T.Moore)
• Phacelia tripinnata (Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia var. cinerea (Brand)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia var. tenuifolia (Torr.)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia f. staminea (Brand)
• Phacelia commixta (Greene)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia var. genuina (Brand)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia var. pseudodistans (Brand)
• Phacelia tanacetifolia subvar. tenuisecta (Brand)

Distribution

• Arizona (native)
• California (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Maine (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Nevada (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Oct 4, 2018 by Wolfgang Jauch (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2019 by Xavier Andrade (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2017 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2017 by Isabelle Ribaute (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by Frank Weller (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 23, 2021 by Boris guerard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 17, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 24, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 18, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 27, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2017 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2017 by Jean-Marie Frenoux (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 10, 2022 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 2, 2015 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2020 by daddel duude (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2019 by Pour Demos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2019 by Günther Oberländer (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 4, 2021 by Kubikula Kuba (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2022 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2019 by Germine De Rien (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2021 by Plant_Anne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2019 by Gaëtan felici (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2928226)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:432789-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Crown

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.6

Ph minimum: 6.4

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 7