Trichostema purpusii grew natuarly in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca, but is now thought to be extinct in the wild. It is closely related to Trichostema arizonicum and at one time was renamed Eplingia saxícola but this plant was later synonomized as Trichostema purpusii. Plants of Trichostema purpusii were distributed from the University of California Botanic Garden (later named the Mildred Mathias Botanic Garden) from plants grown there in 1968 and there was at one time a nice planting of this species in the Huntington Botanic Garden that was planted in 1989.

The genus Trichostema based on the type species Trichostema dichotomum from Virginia, was published in Linnaeus’ Corollarium Genera Plantarum in 1737 with the name credited to the Dutch botanist Johan Frederik Gronovius. The name for the genus is from the Latin words 'trichos' meaning "hair" and 'stema' meaning "stamens" in reference to its long hair-like stamens and the specific epithet honors the German born pharmacist, self trained botanist and plant collector Carl Albert Purpus (or Carlos Alberto as he was called later) who collected plants throughout southwestern North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The genus Purpusia in the Rose family was named for him but is now included in the genus Ivesia.

We sold Trichostema purpusii from 2001 to 2006 from seed purchased from Seedhunt and we continue to grow a hybrid of it called Trichostema 'Midnight Magic' that has Wooly Blue Curls, Trichostema lanatum as the other parent. 

The information about Trichostema purpusii displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.