Traditionally, and under the Cronquist system, the taxon was given family rank under the name Hydrophyllaceae, and treated as part of the order Solanales.

[3][4] Plants in this subfamily may be annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, with either a prostrate or an erect stem.

[citation needed] The subfamily takes its name from the genus Hydrophyllum (waterleaf).

Members include Emmenanthe (whispering bells), Nemophila (baby blue eyes) and Phacelia (scorpionweed).

[5] As of November 2024[update], the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website accepted the family Hydrophyllaceae rather than the subfamily Hydrophylloideae, and included 12 genera:[5] Four further genera were accepted by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, but placed in the family Namaceae:[6] The division into two families rather than one subfamily follows the recommendations of the Boraginales Working Group.