[2] It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of central and southern California,[3] where it grows in local habitat types such as coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and sandy recently burned areas.

Phacelia viscida is an annual herb growing erect to a maximum height near 70 centimeters.

The leaves have toothed oval blades borne on petioles.

The hairy, glandular inflorescence is a curving cyme of five-lobed flowers.

Each flower is up to 2 centimeters wide and nearly white to deep blue in color with a paler, mottled center.