small-flowered blue-eyed mary
ExplorePlants
small-flowered blue-eyed mary
Collinsia parviflora
The small-flowered blue-eyed mary is a pretty little flower with tiny blue and white blooms. It often grows in clusters and can be found in many places, bringing beauty to gardens and fields.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The small-flowered blue-eyed mary is a slender annual herb with delicate, two-lipped flowers typically a vibrant blue or violet, often featuring white or yellow markings on the lower lip. Its small size and bright blooms help it stand out in early spring.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyPlantaginaceaeGenusCollinsia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's an "ephemeral" beauty, meaning its brief bloom delights only for a short time!
Its tiny flowers are perfect landing pads for small, busy native bees.
Named after botanist Thomas Nuttall, who first described it in North America.
Some species of blue-eyed mary are native only to California, nowhere else!
Special abilities
Ability
Quick Sprout
This plant can grow, flower, and set seeds rapidly, completing its entire life cycle in just a few weeks after rain.
Ability
Tiny Seed Traveler
Small-flowered blue-eyed mary produces many tiny seeds that can be easily dispersed by wind or water to new locations.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-40 cm
- Spread
- 5-15 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Yellow-faced bumblebee
Bombus vosnesenskii
An important native pollinator in its range.
eats
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae
Sap-feeding insect that can feed on many plants.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is small-flowered blue-eyed mary?
5-40 cm
How wide does small-flowered blue-eyed mary spread?
5-15 cm
How big are the flowers on small-flowered blue-eyed mary?
0.3-1 cm
When does small-flowered blue-eyed mary bloom?
Spring to early summer
Is small-flowered blue-eyed mary edible?
No
Is small-flowered blue-eyed mary toxic?
None
What is small-flowered blue-eyed mary's lifecycle?
Annual
How is small-flowered blue-eyed mary pollinated?
Insect
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