New Mexico Plumseed, Desert Chicory

Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade

Origin: Southwestern USA (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah), northern Mexico, at 200 to 3000 feet elevation (60-900 m)

Growth Habits: Annual, up to 20 inches tall (50 cm); basal leaves deeply pinnately lobed, 2 to 8 inches long (5-20 cm), stem leaves shorter, sometimes entire.

Watering Needs: Little water

Propagation: Seeds

Rafinesquia neomexicana, ©Gary A. Monroe. Mojave Desert Preserve, San Bernardino Co., CA. April 18, 2003

The genus is named after the 19th century botanist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz.

Blooming Habits:
Large showy white flowers, 1 to 1.6 inches wide (2.5-4 cm), at the end of weak stems. They have pink violet stripes on the petal (ray flowers) undersides. They come in February to May