WILDFLOWERS OF NEW MEXICO

The glamorous flowers of this 20–30-inch tall plant crown the stem tips with numerous 2–4-inch wide, bell-shaped flowers. Branching stalks from leaf axils form a showy terminal cluster of 2–6 flowers. Misguided flower lovers have over-picked this flower so much it has become rare in the wild.

FLOWER: June–October. Bloom bell-shaped to 4 inches wide (10 cm) with 5 blue to purple-lavender (occasionally white) petals to 3/4–1 5.8-inches long (2–4 cm), oblong with tiny pounts on the tips; the dark throat is outlined with a whitish halo. Showy yellow anthers and a green stigma add to the flower’s eye-catching appeal.

LEAVES: Opposite. Blades slightly succulent, oval to elliptic 3-inches long (75 mm), by 1-inch wide (25 mm) with pointed tips. Leaves clasp the stem.

HABITAT: Sandy, loamy soils; moist meadows, prairies, stream sides.

ELEVATION: 3,000–6,500 feet.

RANGE: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, KS, LA, MT, NE, NM, NV, OK, SD, TX, WY.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Most authorities recognize only one U.S. species in the genus, but others  define 2 slightly different subspecies, or species. Small Bluebell, subsp. exaltatum, has 1-inch long petals and subsp. russellianum has 1–2-inch long petals. Some authorities don’t recognize subspecies differences, or classify the species as Eustoma russellianum.

NM COUNTIES: Southern and central NM, and scattered in northen counties, in low- to mid-elevation, moist habitats: Bernalillo, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, Sandoval, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Rio Arriba, Union.