Are you considering adding some desert bluebell flowers to your home or garden? These plants are a favorite amongst many gardeners due to their beautifully colored flowers. Take a walk around the California deserts Mojave and Sonoran in spring and you may notice giant carpets of purple-blue flowers nestled around the rocks. These little blooms transform the dusty rocks into seas of color up until summer when the flowers die down.
But, they aren’t restricted to these regions and have also become popular garden plants across the United States. We’re talking about Phacelia campanularia, also known as Desert Bluebells, which is different than the European bluebells known as Hyacinthoides Non-Scripta.
Reaching just over two feet in height, these annuals with interesting foliage and flowers that are even better are great fillers for any garden. Desert Bluebells are found in the wild in a small region of the southwestern United States. They cover the higher rocky areas of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts that extend from California into Arizona and beyond.
In spring, especially after strong winter rains, the flowers bloom all at the same time. Due to their captivating blue color, this makes quite the display, especially in contrast to the stark surrounding deserts.
As pretty as they appear in these regions, they should not be removed from their natural habitats. Firstly, these plants are annuals and will not rebloom the following year if you plant them somewhere else. Secondly, removing plants from their native environments disturbs the local habitat and influences other plants and wildlife.
One person taking one plant may not be noticed, but if everyone had to remove these stunning flowers, they would certainly become endangered in their native area, especially since they are already classified as vulnerable.
If you want to appreciate them out in the wild, you can hike through one of these deserts. But, if you want to appreciate them in your own garden, there are many options available to you. Desert Bluebells are popular ornamental plants that you should easily come across at your local nursery, depending on your region.
They are usually sold as seeds to plant straight into the garden. Phacelia campanularia is often used in wildflower seed mixes too, depending on your region. Take a look at the back of the packet to see whether Desert Bluebells are included. Alternatively, you can get separate packs of seeds and make your own wildflower mix which will produce the same result. Phacelia campanularia is propagated from seed. You can either collect these from the plant to replant in new areas of your garden or leave them to spread naturally as they do in the wild. As these plants are annuals, you will need to replant every year if you want continuous blooms in your garden. In this case, propagating is definitely the way to go.