Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lacy Phacelia
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Lacy Phacelia is an annual plant whose lovely lavender-blue flowers are THE biggest bee magnet you can plant. Every garden should have some of this super easy and guaranteed reseeder.
It grows to about 2 ft tall and wide and the deeply cut leaves give the plant its lacy appearance. The flowers are bell-shaped with long stamens that protrude beyond the petals. The flowers grow in clusters at the top of the stem and unfurl as they open. Planting a big patch provides the most nectar for the bees with the least work for them to collect it. In addition to being very attractive to pollinators, it also attracts hoverflies—beneficial insects that eat aphids and other pests.
In the garden, it does best in full sun and well-draining sandy soil. Lacy Phacelia is often planted in vineyards and next to crops because of the number of bees it attracts. It is also used as a bee-friendly cover crop on organic farms. Be aware that some people can experience skin irritation after touching this plant.