New Mexico Wildflowers: Blue to Purple to Lavender

 

Your lavender may be my pink! If so, the flower you're looking for may be on a separate page.

 

Flowers are shown in alphabetical order by English family name, genus, and species. Due to recent taxonomic changes, look for penstemons among the Plantain family members.

 

Click on a link to obtain additional photos of a species, plus comments. Those additional pages are bandwidth-intensive and best used with a high speed connection.

 

Please don't take my IDs as authoritative. These pages of nature photos represent one person's voyage of discovery, not the studies of a trained expert. If you see something I've misidentified, please contact me via my "Contact" page, which is tabbed at the top.

 


Shadscale, Atriplex confertifolia, New Mexico

Amaranth Family, Shadscale, Atriplex confertifolia

Common or Lesser Burdock, Arctium minus

Aster Family, Common or Lesser Burdock, Arctium minus (leaf shown; flowers resemble purple thistles)

Chicory, Cichorium intybus, New Mexico

Aster Family, Chicory, Cichorium intybus (compare with blue lettuce, below)

New Mexico Thistle, Cirsium neomexicanum

Aster Family, New Mexico Thistle, Cirsium neomexicanum

Yellow-Spine Thistle, Cirsium ochrocentrum, New Mexico

Aster Family, Yellow-Spine Thistle, Cirsium ochrocentrum

Purple Aster, Dieteria, New Mexico

Aster Family, Purple Aster, Dieteria

Fleabane, Showy Daisy, Erigeron, New Mexico

Aster Family, Fleabane or Showy Daisy, Erigeron (can also be white)

Dotted Blazing Star, Dotted Gayfeather, Liatris punctata, New Mexico

Aster Family, Dotted Blazing Star or Dotted Gayfeather, Liatris punctata

Purple Aster, Machaeranthera, New Mexico

Aster Family, Purple Aster, Machaeranthera

Blue Lettuce, Mulgedium pulchellum, New Mexico

Aster Family, Blue Lettuce, Mulgedium pulchellum (compare with chicory, above)

Russian Knapweed, Rhaponticum or Acroptilon repens, New Mexico

Aster Family, Russian Knapweed, Rhaponticum or Acroptilon repens

Wire-Lettuce, Stephanomeria, Aster Family, New Mexico

Aster Family, Wire-Lettuce, Stephanomeria

Rocky Mountain Townsend Daisy, Townsendia eximia, New Mexico

Aster Family, Rocky Mountain Townsend Daisy, Townsendia eximia

Harebells, Campanula rotundifolia, New Mexico

Bellflower Family, Harebells, Campanula rotundifolia

Stickseed, Hackelia, New Mexico

Borage Family, Stickseed, Hackelia (can be white)

 Franciscan Bluebells, Mertensia franciscana, New Mexico

Borage Family, Franciscan Bluebells, Mertensia franciscana

Lanceleaf Bluebells, Mertensia lanceolata

Borage Family, Lanceleaf Bluebells, Mertensia lanceolata

Dwarf Lousewort, Pedicularis centranthera, New Mexico

Broomrape Family, Dwarf Lousewort, Pedicularis centranthera

Blue Columbine, Aquilegia coerulea, New Mexico

Buttercup Family,  Blue Columbine, Aquilegia coerulea

Leather Flower, Clematis sp., New Mexico

Buttercup Family,  Leather Flower, Clematis sp.

Sapello Canyon Larkspur, Delphinium sapellonis, New Mexico

Buttercup Family, Sapello Canyon Larkspur, Delphinium sapellonis (mix of purple, brown, and green)

Organ Mountain Larkspur, Delphinium wootonii, New Mexico

Buttercup Family, Organ Mountain Larkspur, Delphinium wootonii (can also be white)

Cane Cholla, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Cactaceae, New Mexico

Cactus Family, Cane Cholla, Cylindropuntia Imbricata

Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Cleome, Peritoma, serrulata, New Mexico

Cleomaceae, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Peritoma serrulata

Western Spiderwort, Tradescantia occidentalis

Dayflower Family, Western Spiderwort, Tradescantia occidentalis

Climbing Milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides, New Mexico

Dogbane Family, Climbing Milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides

Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium, New Mexico

Evening Primrose Family, Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium (can be more pink)

Western Sea-Purslane, Sesuvium verrucosum, New Mexico

Fig-Marigold Family, Western Sea-Purslane, Sesuvium verrucosum

Wild Blue Flax, Linum lewisii, New Mexico

Flax Family, Wild Blue Flax, Linum lewisii

Windmills, Trailing Four O'Clock, Allionia, New Mexico

Four O'Clock Family, Windmills or Trailing Four O'Clock, Allionia

Scarlet Spiderling, Boerhavia coccinea, New Mexico

Four O'Clock Family, Scarlet Spiderling, Boerhavia coccinea

White Four O'Clock, Mirabilis albida, New Mexico

Four O'Clock Family, White Four O'Clock, Mirabilis albida (can also be white)

Narrow-Leaf Four O'Clock, Mirabilis linearis, New Mexico

Four O'Clock Family, Narrow-Leaf Four O'Clock, Mirabilis linearis (can also be pink)

Mountain Four O'Clock, Mirabilis oblongifolia, New Mexico

Four O'Clock Family, Mountain Four O'Clock, Mirabilis oblongifolia

Gentian Family, Arizona Centaury, Zeltnera

Filaree, Heronbill, Stork's Bill, Erodium circutarium, New Mexico

Geranium Family, Filaree, Heronbill, or Stork's Bill, Erodium circutarium

Purple or Fremont Geranium, Geranium caespitosum, New Mexico

Geranium Family, Purple or Fremont Geranium, Geranium caespitosum

Richardson's Geranium, Geranium richardsonii, New Mexico

Geranium Family, Richardson's Geranium, Geranium richardsonii

 

Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, New Mexico

Honeysuckle Family, Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum

Arizona Valerian, Valeriana arizonica, New Mexico

Honeysuckle Family, Arizona Valerian, Valeriana arizonica

Rocky Mountain Iris, Iris missouriensis, New Mexico

Iris Family, Rocky Mountain Iris, Iris missouriensis

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum, New Mexico

Lily Family, Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum

Geyer's Onion, Allium geyeri, New Mexico

Lily Family, Geyer's Onion, Allium geyeri

Giant Hyssop, Agastache pallidiflora, New Mexico

Mint Family, Giant Hyssop, Agastache pallidiflora

Nettle-Leaf Giant Hyssop, Agastache urticifolia, New Mexico

Mint Family, Nettle-Leaf Giant Hyssop, Agastache urticifolia

Henbit Deadnettle, Giraffeheads, Lamium amplexicaule, New Mexico

Mint Family, Henbit Deadnettle or Giraffeheads, Lamium amplexicaule

Bergamot, Beebalm, Monarda fistulosa, New Mexico

Mint Family, Bergamot or Beebalm, Monarda fistulosa

Pony Beebalm, Monarda pectinata, New Mexico

Mint Family, Pony Beebalm, Monarda pectinata (more often white to pale pink)

Blue Sage, Salvia azurea, New Mexico

Mint Family, Blue Sage, Salvia azurea

Lanceleaf Sage, Salvia reflexa, New Mexico

Mint Family, Lanceleaf Sage, Salvia reflexa

Sawtooth Sage, Salvia subincisa, New Mexico

Mint Family, Sawtooth Sage, Salvia subincisa

Chaste Tree, Lilac Chastetree, Vitex agnus-castus, New Mexico

Mint Family, Chaste Tree or Lilac Chastetree, Vitex agnus-castus

 Field Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, New Mexico

Morning Glory Family, Field Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis (can also be all-white or more pink)

Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory, Evolvulus nuttallianus, New Mexico

Morning Glory Family, Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory, Evolvulus nuttallianus

Ivy-Leaf, Ivy-Leaved, Morning Glory, Ipomoea hederacea, New Mexico

Morning Glory Family, Ivy-Leaved or Ivy-Leaf Morning Glory, Ipomoea hederacea

Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory, Evolvulus nuttallianus, New Mexico

Morning Glory Family, Bush Morning Glory, Ipomoea leptophylla

Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory, Evolvulus nuttallianus, New Mexico

Morning Glory Family, Common Morning Glory, Ipomoea purpurea

Rockcress, Boechera, New Mexico

Mustard Family, Rockcress, Boechera (can also be white)

Purple Mustard, Blue Mustard, Chorispora tenella, New Mexico

Mustard Family, Blue Mustard, Chorispora tenella

Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, New Mexico

Orchid Family, Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa

Vesper cf. bulbosus, bulbous spring parsley, New Mexico

Parsley Family, Bulbous Spring Parsley? Vesper cf.

bulbosus

False Indigo-Bush, Amorpha fruticosa, New Mexico

Pea Family, False Indigo-Bush, Amorpha fruticosa

Milkvetch, Astragalus, New Mexico

Pea Family, Milkvetch, Astragalus spp.

Feather Plume or Feather Dalea, Dalea formosa, New Mexico

Pea Family, Feather Plume or Feather Dalea, Dalea formosa

Woolly Prairie Clover, Dalea lanata, New Mexico

Pea Family, Woolly Prairie Clover, Dalea lanata

Everlasting Pea, Perennial Peavine, Lathyrus latifolius, New Mexico

Pea Family, Everlasting Pea or Perennial Peavine, Lathyrus latifolius

Lupine, Lupinus, New Mexico

Pea Family, Lupine, Lupinus

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, New Mexico

Pea Family, Alfalfa, Medicago sativa

Slimflower Scurfpea, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, New Mexico

Pea Family, Slimflower Scurfpea, Psoralidium tenuiflorum

Broom Dalea, Psorothamnus scoparius, New Mexico

Pea Family, Broom Dalea, Psorothamnus scoparius

Red Clover, Trifolium pratense, New Mexico

Pea Family, Red Clover, Trifolium pratense

American Vetch, Vicia americana, New Mexico

Pea Family, American Vetch, Vicia americana

Tiny Trumpet, Collomia linearis, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Tiny Trumpet, Collomia linearis

Bluebowls, Giliastrum rigidulum, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Bluebowls, Giliastrum rigidulum

Trumpet Gilia, Ipomopsis longiflora, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Trumpet Gilia, Ipomopsis longiflora

Many-Flowered Gilia, Ipomopsis multiflora, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Many-Flowered Gilia, Ipomopsis multiflora

Santa Fe Phlox, Phlox nana, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Santa Fe Phlox, Phlox nana

 Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium foliosissimum, New Mexico

Phlox Family, Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium foliosissimum

Sand, Bush Penstemon, Penstemon ambiguus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Sand or Bush Penstemon, Penstemon ambiguus (varies from white to lavender)

Broad-beard, Narrowleaf, Penstemon angustifolius, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Broad-beard or Narrowleaf Penstemon,  Penstemon angustifolius

Plantain Family, Inflated Penstemon, Penstemon inflatus

James, Penstemon jamesii, Arizona Penstemon, Penstemon ophianthus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, James' Penstemon, Penstemon jamesii, or Arizona Penstemon, Penstemon ophianthus

Desert Penstemon, Penstemon pseudospectabilis, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Desert Penstemon, Penstemon pseudospectabilis

Rydberg's Penstemon,  Penstemon rydbergii, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Rydberg's Penstemon,  Penstemon rydbergii

Sidebells Beardtongue?  Penstemon secundiflorus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Sidebells Beardtongue?  Penstemon secundiflorus

Rocky Mountain, Penstemon strictus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Penstemon strictus

Wandbloom, Penstemon virgatus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Wandbloom Penstemon, Penstemon virgatus

Dusky, Penstemon whippleanus, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Dusky Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus

Water Speedwell, Veronica anagallis-aquatica, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Water Speedwell, Veronica anagallis-aquatica

Birdeye or Persian Speedwell, Veronica persica, New Mexico

Plantain Family, Birdeye or Persian Speedwell, Veronica persica

Chinese Thorn-Apple, Datura quercifolia, New Mexico

Potato Family, Chinese Thorn-Apple, Datura quercifolia

Torrey Wolfberry, Lycium torreyi, New Mexico

Potato Family, Torrey Wolfberry, Lycium torreyi

Silverleaf Nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium

Potato Family, Silverleaf Nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium

Trans-Pecos Sea-Lavender, Limonium limbatum, New Mexico

Plumbago Family, Trans-Pecos Sea-Lavender, Limonium limbatum

Verbena, Glandularia bipinnatifida, New Mexico

Verbena Family, Verbena, Glandularia bipinnatifida

Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata, New Mexico

Verbena Family, Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata

Spike Vervain, New Mexico Vervain, Verbena mcdougalii

Verbena Family, Spike or New Mexico Vervain, Verbena mcdougalii

Carpet Vervain, Verbena bracteata, New Mexico

Verbena Family, Carpet Vervain, Verbena bracteata

Gypsum Scorpionweed, Phacella integrifolia, New Mexico

Waterleaf Family, Gypsum Scorpionweed, Phacella integrifolia

Violet Woodsorrel, Oxalis violaceae, New Mexico

Wood Sorrel Family, Violet Woodsorrel, Oxalis violaceae