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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The capsule contains 2-4 oval brown seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green branched stem with short appressed hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
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.