Why I Garden #37
Folks around Santa Fe call these flowers Purple Aster when they pop up in late summer / early fall. Apparently Aster bigelovii has quite a few pseudonyms including Bigelow's Tansyaster, Sticky Aster and more scientifically Machaeranthera bigelovii or Dieteria bigelovii var. bigelovii. Regardless of what they're called we have a few of these self-seeded native wildflowers growing in one of the beds around our home.
More Info:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Machaeranthera bigelovii var. bigelovii
USDA Plant Guide - Bigelow's Tansyaster (.pdf)
