Miami Mist (Phacelia purshii) is in the borage family family (Boraginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,444 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Miami Mist: observations by month (U.S.)
About Miami Mist
Phacelia purshii, common name Miami mist, is a spring flowering annual forb with blue flowers, which is native to eastern and central North America. It is native to the Appalachian Mountains and adjacent regions from Alabama to Pennsylvania, with additional populations in the Tennessee/Ohio Valley, the mid-section of the Mississippi Valley (Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas) and the Great Lakes region (Ohio, Michigan, Ontario, etc.). It grows in floodplain forests and alluvial clearings.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Miami Mist by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 824 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 601 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 588 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 444 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 237 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 229 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 126 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 99 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 88 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 88 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 62 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 29 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (borage family)
Virginia bluebells
Distant Phacelia
Pacific hound's tongue
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Alkali Heliotrope
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Wild Canterbury Bells
Desert Bluebells
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Miami Mist?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Miami Mist most often seen?
The most observations come from Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio.