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Phacelia purshii is often confused with:
Phacelia tanacetifolia Bumble bee sipping nectar from a flower.
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cornus amomum Cornus amomum
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola pedata Viola pedata

Phacelia purshii

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Phacelia bicknellii
  • Phacelia boykinii
Phonetic Spelling
fa-SEE-lee-uh PUR-shee-eye
Description

Miami mist is a native annual forb in the borage family (Boraginaceae) that is native to mountainous regions of eastern and central USA and Canada. In NC it is found primarily in the mountains and northwest Piedmont. It is often found growing at forest edges, stream banks, disturbed areas and moist fields and meadows. The genus name Phacelia is from the Greek word for "cluster", referring to the grouping of the flowers. The specific epithet purshii honors the German botanist Frederick Traugott Pursh. The common name, Miami mist doesn't refer to the FL city but to the Miami Native American people who lived in the Great Lakes region and the Great Miami River in Ohio.

Miami mist grows to about 1-2 feet tall and can be erect or sprawling. It does best in full sun to partial shade in fertile moist soils. Although it can be found growing near bogs it does best in well-drained soils. Propagation is by seeds.

The attractive flowers occur in spring into summer and occur in clusters of lavender to light blue (occasionally white) flowers with white centers and fringed edges. Leaves are variable in size and shape. After blooming capsules form with 2-4 seeds and the plant dies shortly after.

This annual is appropriate for garden use in the border, along streams or ponds or mass-planted in naturalized areas. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Hayefield Gold’
    Yellowish leaves
‘Hayefield Gold’
Tags:
#showy flowers#nectar plant#riparian#pond margins#specialized bees#NC native#lavender flowers#pollinator plant#naturalized area#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bee friendly#annual#short lived#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Hayefield Gold’
    Yellowish leaves
‘Hayefield Gold’
Tags:
#showy flowers#nectar plant#riparian#pond margins#specialized bees#NC native#lavender flowers#pollinator plant#naturalized area#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bee friendly#annual#short lived#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phacelia
    Species:
    purshii
    Family:
    Boraginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , GA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MO , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV Canada: ON
    Wildlife Value:
    Members of the genus Phacelia support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Micrandrena) lamelliterga, Andrena (Euandrena) phaceliae, Hoplitis (Robertsonella) simplex.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The capsule contains 2-4 oval brown seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of 10-30 cup-shaped lavender to blue flowers with pale centers have 5 lobes that are delicately fringed on the edges. The calyces are hairy as are the stems. Individual flowers are 1/2 inch across. Blooms spring into summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Green leaves are elliptic to oblong and either deeply lobed or compound with 3-7 pinnae or lobes. Basal leaves will wither with blooming, stem leaves alternate with ususally pointed tips and sparsely to moderated hairy. Stem leaves can have short stems or be sessile and clasping. They are 1-3 inches long
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Green branched stem with short appressed hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees