Flower profile
Miami mist
Phacelia purshii
Miami mist is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Kentucky it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Kentucky
Quick look
Phacelia purshii, known by the common names Miami mist, scorpionweed, and purple scorpionweed, is a spring flowering annual forb with blue, lavender, violet, or nearly white flowers in the family Hydrophyllaceae that is native to eastern and central North America.
- It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Kentucky. NatureServe
- In Kentucky, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 751 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #83 among the 110 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist
Miami mist gift ideas
Handmade miami mist gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Miami mist art print
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Miami mist greeting card
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Miami mist mug
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Miami mist earrings
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Miami mist embroidery pattern
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Miami mist sticker
When does it bloom?
In Kentucky, most flowering sightings come in April–May.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Kentucky
- Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AR (S1), DC (S1), GA (S1), MS (S1), NC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records miami mist in 20 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.
Kentucky counties with USDA records: Anderson, Boone, Bourbon, Boyle, Breathitt, Bullitt, Caldwell, Carroll, Casey, Clark, Clay, Edmonson, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Larue, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Nelson, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Pike, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Warren, Washington, Whitley, Woodford.
More Kentucky flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHPU3.
- iNaturalist, Phacelia purshii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Phacelia purshii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
- Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Phacelia purshii (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Jay Brasher via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.