Zone: 7 to 10

Soil: Sand to loam

Light: Full sun to part sun

Bloom colour: Lavender blue

Bloom period: Two months

Height: 1-3 feet

Moisture: Dry to medium

Attracts: A variety of small bees, bumblebees and syrphid flies.

Notes: This species of Phacelia, which comes from California, is used as a bee or cover crop in many parts of North America and in Europe. It is one of the best annuals to attract bees and even though the flowers are stunning, they are not commonly available in commercial nurseries so you rarely see this plant in gardens.

The plant does particularly well in sunny beds with sandy soil. Simply sow the seeds into the surface of the ground and wait for them to appear. No scarification is necessary.