Phacelia tanacetifolia, commonly known as Lacy Phacelia, Purple Tansy, or Blue Tansy, is a fantastic plant for your garden, especially if you’re keen on attracting pollinators like bees and hoverflies. This annual plant has made a name for itself across Europe for its bee-friendly nature and soil conditioning properties.
The plant is quite a looker with its small, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in hues of lavender and blue. These flowers are grouped in terminal clusters and are particularly nectar-rich, which makes them a favorite among honey bees. Notably, each flower in the cluster blooms sequentially, resulting in a prolonged blooming period that typically spans from March to May, and sometimes extends into June.
Apart from its beauty and allure for bees, Purple Tansy is incredibly practical. It’s a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require much grooming or care. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial afternoon shade. It’s also fairly drought-tolerant, preferring dry soil, so overwatering is a no-no. The plant fares best in gravelly or sandy soil that’s well-draining.
When it comes to propagating Lacy Phacelia, it’s an all-seed affair. Interestingly, the seeds require darkness for the initial 24 hours after sowing due to their photodormancy, meaning they won’t germinate if exposed to light during this period.
Another plus is that Lacy Phacelia is a natural choice for biological pest control. It attracts hoverflies, which are beneficial as they feed on aphids and other garden pests. So, not only do you get a beautiful garden, but you also get some pest control helpers along the way.
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