This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Community Favorites, 75 can't- fail, easy-care plants well-adapted to our region and recommended by area gardeners.
California phacelia
Phacelia californica
Size: Under 2 feet tall
Bloom season: Spring, summer, early fall
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Pruning needs: Little or none; remove spent flower stems
Water needs: Once established, water deeply once every two weeks
Snapshot: Also called scorpionweed, this pretty native can be found in many parts of Northern California, particularly in coastal regions. It's botanical name means "cluster," referring to the bunches of bell-shaped lavender flowers. Resembling a scorpion's tail, the fiddlehead stems uncoil with new growth. This pretty perennial is an important nectar source for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly, but it's also a favorite for bees and other beneficial insects. You can see specimens in the arboretum's Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California native plants on the UC Davis campus.
Why it's a Favorite: "I love this California native plant because it provides food for native bees," said Carmia Feldman, the arboretum's assistant director. "It also has fun, long-lasting flowers that start out coiled and unravel as they bloom over the summer."
• Read more about the Arboretum's 75th anniversary at http://arboretum75th. ucdavis.edu. For more on the Community Favorites and Arboretum All-Stars, click on http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu.
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