Sonoran Slender-Thoroughwort Fleischmannia sonorae
Family: Asteraceae
One of the many “blue mist” species—this is an herbaceous perennial with purplish-blue flowers that appear fall until December (including some times when little else is blooming in the beginning of winter). Grows to about 2.5’ tall and wide.
Part sun, regular water, hardy to at least 10°F. Cut back when needed.
The genus is known to have very nectar rich flowers that possess alkaloids that monarchs use to attract mates. This is also a larval food plant for the bordered patch (Chlosyne lacinia). Larval host for species of metalmark butterflies, Celephelis species.
Photo by Dan Beckman, SEINET
Fleischmannia sonorae on iNaturalist
Fleischmannia horors Gottfried F. Fleischmann (1777-1850), teacher of Schultz-Bipontinus (the botanist who described this genus) at the University of Erlangen; sonorae means from the Sonoran Desert. There are 106 species of Fleischmannia native to South, Central, and North America, with some species found as far north as Virginia and Illinois.
Found in rich soils along streams and in canyons, from 3,000-5,000 ft. in Arizona and New Mexico; south to northern Mexico.