Bloomipedia
Linearleaf phacelia (Phacelia linearis)
Photo: John Brew via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Linearleaf phacelia

Phacelia linearis

Linearleaf phacelia (Phacelia linearis) is a flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to Montana

Linearleaf phacelia is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

11states where USDA records it
563MT sightings*
3,617U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Montana

Quick look

Phacelia linearis, the linear-leaved phacelia or threadleaf phacelia, is a species of phacelia.

  • It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 563 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #76 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Montana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (29 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records linearleaf phacelia in 11 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Custer, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Valley.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 139 counties across 10 states; the most are in Montana (32), Washington (26), Oregon (23).

Other Phacelia on Bloomipedia (8): Distant phacelia, Notch-leaf scorpionweed, Blue curls, Purple phacelia, Silky phacelia, Miami mist, Frémont's phacelia, Gypsum phacelia.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, Pacific hound's tongue, Alkali heliotrope, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes, California yerba santa.

More Montana flowers

Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

Hound's-tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: July–August
Common beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax)

Common beargrass

Xerophyllum tenax

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–July

Sources