This annual native wildflower grows in rich moist woods. The name Miami does not refer to the Florida city, but relates to the Miami Native American people who lived in the Great Lakes region and the Great Miami River in Ohio. The flower is delicate and light blue with fringes around the five petals and sepals. The base of the petals may be white. Occasionally there are specimens with all white flowers. Each flower has a diameter of about 1/2 inch. It blooms from April to June. Small beetles and ants are frequent visitors to the flowers and probably serve as pollinators.

The plant reaches a height of 20 inches. Both the pinnately compound leaves and the stem are covered with fine hairs. Since Miami mist is a woodland species it is somewhat shade tolerant. Although it can be found in moist environments in flood plains, it seems to do best on well-drained areas on hillsides. In some places they can form dense colonies and be quite colorful.