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herbaceous layer

phacelia

phacelia tanacetifolia

six weeks from seed to a purple haze of bees. sow it on any bare bed as living mulch, cut it before seed, and the soil biology feasts.

functions

pollinator foragebiomassground coverinsectary

light

full sun

moisture

moderate

soil

any — it's a green manure

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grower's notes

members

propagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for phacelia — the members' view.

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the takeaway

start a guild around phacelia

plant these together and the relationships on this page start working for you — feeders, protectors, and cover, layer by layer.

herbaceous
phacelia — the anchor
groundcover
white clover

works inside: living mulch · insectary strip · nectar succession