camera identify
Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Svenska
Polskie
ภาษาไทย
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Svenska
Polskie
ภาษาไทย
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
This page looks better in the app
about about
About
distribution_map distribution_map
Distribution
children children
All Species
pupular_genus pupular_genus
More Genus
pic top
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys (Collinsia)
The hardy or half-hardy annuals of blue eyed Marys are prized for the exotically beautiful summer-time blooms that they produce, making them popular with gardeners. Blue eyed Marys have sweet nectar, which attracts many pollinators, and generally do not have any major disease or pest issues. It is said that they resemble Chinese-style pagodas, which was how they were named "Chinese houses."
Lifespan
Lifespan
Annual
distribution

Distribution of Blue eyed Marys

Distribution Map of Blue eyed Marys

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
species

Exploring the Blue eyed Marys Plants

8 most common species:
Collinsia heterophylla
Chinese houses
Native to the Western United States, chinese houses gets it common name because its flowers resemble pagodas when they are in full bloom. This wildflower is easy and makes great cut flowers as well.
Collinsia parviflora
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
The teensy maiden Blue Eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora) is a common sight throughout much of northern and western North America. It’s so small, it’s hard to spot. Fortunately, it usually grows in big sprawling colonies, which makes it easier to spot. You’ll find it in mountain forests with lots of shade and moist soil.
Collinsia verna
Spring blue eyed mary
Spring blue eyed mary is a flowering annual native to North America. Small clusters of flowers have white and blue petals. Abundant woodland colonies appear like blue carpets. Seeds germinate in the fall and seedlings can overwinter.
Collinsia sparsiflora
Spinster's blue eyed mary
It is an annual herb producing a slender, reddish stem up to 30 centimeters tall with an inflorescence of widely spaced nodes bearing one to three flowers each. The flower has very long, pointed sepals and purple, lavender, or occasionally white flowers.
Collinsia bartsiifolia
White blue eyed mary
White blue eyed mary is a charming herbaceous wildflower, often found brightening the shady underbrush of western North America's woodlands. Its unique stacked whorls of striking violet-blue blooms are a beacon for early spring pollinators. The plant typically presents pairs of broad, green leaves further down its stem, creating a poised, leafy backdrop for its distinctive floral display. Thriving in moist, well-drained soil, white blue eyed mary adds a splash of color to its native habitat's palette.
Collinsia greenei
Greene's blue eyed mary
Greene's blue eyed mary is a flowering herb known for its delicate blue to violet blossoms perched atop slender stems. Native to the United States, its foliage embraces the essence of its forest understorey habitat, thriving in the dappled shade. Often found in clearings or meadows, the plant’s bell-shaped flowers and serrated leaves are a modest showcase of adaptive elegance.
Collinsia tinctoria
Sticky chinese houses
Collinsia tinctoria is an annual herb producing a sturdy erect stem up to about 60 centimeters tall. The oppositely arranged leaves are triangular lance-shaped, sometimes toothed, and hairy on the undersides.
Collinsia sparsiflora var. arvensis
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Spinster's blue eyed mary is a captivating wildflower with sparse, vivid blue to violet blossoms, elegantly arranged on slender spikes. This variety frequently flourishes in open spaces within grasslands or woodlands, adapting well to the ample sunlight and well-drained soils. Its unique two-lipped flowers and contrasting white throat make it a beacon for pollinators during its springtime bloom.

All Species of Blue eyed Marys

Chinese houses
Collinsia heterophylla
Chinese houses
Native to the Western United States, chinese houses gets it common name because its flowers resemble pagodas when they are in full bloom. This wildflower is easy and makes great cut flowers as well.
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
Collinsia parviflora
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
The teensy maiden Blue Eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora) is a common sight throughout much of northern and western North America. It’s so small, it’s hard to spot. Fortunately, it usually grows in big sprawling colonies, which makes it easier to spot. You’ll find it in mountain forests with lots of shade and moist soil.
Spring blue eyed mary
Collinsia verna
Spring blue eyed mary
Spring blue eyed mary is a flowering annual native to North America. Small clusters of flowers have white and blue petals. Abundant woodland colonies appear like blue carpets. Seeds germinate in the fall and seedlings can overwinter.
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Collinsia sparsiflora
Spinster's blue eyed mary
It is an annual herb producing a slender, reddish stem up to 30 centimeters tall with an inflorescence of widely spaced nodes bearing one to three flowers each. The flower has very long, pointed sepals and purple, lavender, or occasionally white flowers.
White blue eyed mary
Collinsia bartsiifolia
White blue eyed mary
White blue eyed mary is a charming herbaceous wildflower, often found brightening the shady underbrush of western North America's woodlands. Its unique stacked whorls of striking violet-blue blooms are a beacon for early spring pollinators. The plant typically presents pairs of broad, green leaves further down its stem, creating a poised, leafy backdrop for its distinctive floral display. Thriving in moist, well-drained soil, white blue eyed mary adds a splash of color to its native habitat's palette.
Greene's blue eyed mary
Collinsia greenei
Greene's blue eyed mary
Greene's blue eyed mary is a flowering herb known for its delicate blue to violet blossoms perched atop slender stems. Native to the United States, its foliage embraces the essence of its forest understorey habitat, thriving in the dappled shade. Often found in clearings or meadows, the plant’s bell-shaped flowers and serrated leaves are a modest showcase of adaptive elegance.
Sticky chinese houses
Collinsia tinctoria
Sticky chinese houses
Collinsia tinctoria is an annual herb producing a sturdy erect stem up to about 60 centimeters tall. The oppositely arranged leaves are triangular lance-shaped, sometimes toothed, and hairy on the undersides.
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Collinsia sparsiflora var. arvensis
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Spinster's blue eyed mary is a captivating wildflower with sparse, vivid blue to violet blossoms, elegantly arranged on slender spikes. This variety frequently flourishes in open spaces within grasslands or woodlands, adapting well to the ample sunlight and well-drained soils. Its unique two-lipped flowers and contrasting white throat make it a beacon for pollinators during its springtime bloom.
Desert mountain blue-eyed mary
Collinsia callosa
Desert mountain blue-eyed mary
This mountain growing plant is a part of the plantain family. Look for the desert mountain blue-eyed mary on dry, rocky mountain slopes, where you can spot its thick, fleshy stems with pairs of leaves that grow opposite from each other and at times, clasp the stem where the two meet. It acts as a host for certain moths and butterflies.
Torrey's blue eyed mary
Collinsia torreyi
Torrey's blue eyed mary
This is an annual herb producing a slender, reddish stem up to about 25 centimeters tall. The corolla is no more than a centimeter long and two white or lavender-tinted upper lobes and three darker lavender to purple lower lobes.
Chinese houses
Collinsia concolor
Chinese houses
Chinese houses is a dainty wildflower with a delicate stature, showcasing a pair of lower lips often distinct in color. Its paired leaves embrace the stem, supporting a column of modest clustered blossoms. In its native habitats, chinese houses favor the partial shade of woodland areas, thriving in the cool understory where moist soil nurtures its growth throughout its blooming season.
San francisco blue eyed mary
Collinsia multicolor
San francisco blue eyed mary
San francisco blue eyed mary (Collinsia multicolor) is a rare California native plant named for its habitat in damp, shady habitats in and around the city of San Francisco. Conservationally the plant is classified as rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. This plant was first described by Joseph Paxton, an English architect, and botanist.
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina
Spinster's blue eyed mary
Distinct with sparse, violet-blue flowers crowning slender stems, spinster's blue eyed mary blooms in spring. Its petals, white at the base, form a striking contrast. Thriving in grassy, open habitats, spinster's blue eyed mary employs its delicate foliage to blend seamlessly with the native flora. Sun-loving and drought-resistant, it’s a Californian wildflower that underscores the resilience and beauty of Mediterranean ecosystems.
Parry's blue eyed mary
Collinsia parryi
Parry's blue eyed mary
Parry's blue eyed mary is a delicate wildflower endemic to Western North American grasslands. Known for its signature two-lipped, violet-blue flowers, it blooms abundantly in the spring and prefers the sunny, open spaces of its native habitat. With its foliage clumped at the base and flowers atop slender stems, parry's blue eyed mary has a distinct appearance that aids pollinators in finding their way to its nectar-rich blooms.
Giant blue eyed mary
Collinsia grandiflora
Giant blue eyed mary
Giant blue eyed mary is characterized by its striking large blue to violet blossoms, arranged in showy, tiered clusters. This herbaceous perennial often stands out in its native woodland settings of western North America, drawing in pollinators with its vivid colors and generous blooms throughout spring. The foliage, consisting of green, ovate leaves, provides a lush backdrop to its flamboyant floral display.
Child's blue eyed mary
Collinsia childii
Child's blue eyed mary
Child's blue eyed mary is a herbaceous plant notable for its vibrant violet-blue flowers with two-lipped corollas and a conspicuous white or yellowish throat. Often flourishing in meadows or open woodlands, this species thrives in well-drained soils and responds positively to the dappled sunlight of its habitat. The distinctive blossom arrangement on slender stems makes child's blue eyed mary a captivating sight during its blooming season.
popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
close
product icon
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants and unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app
About
Distribution
All Species
More Genus
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Blue eyed Marys
Collinsia
The hardy or half-hardy annuals of blue eyed Marys are prized for the exotically beautiful summer-time blooms that they produce, making them popular with gardeners. Blue eyed Marys have sweet nectar, which attracts many pollinators, and generally do not have any major disease or pest issues. It is said that they resemble Chinese-style pagodas, which was how they were named "Chinese houses."
Lifespan
Lifespan
Annual
distribution

Distribution of Blue eyed Marys

Distribution Map of Blue eyed Marys

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
species

Exploring the Blue eyed Marys Plants

8 most common species:
Collinsia heterophylla
Chinese houses
Native to the Western United States, chinese houses gets it common name because its flowers resemble pagodas when they are in full bloom. This wildflower is easy and makes great cut flowers as well.
Collinsia parviflora
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
The teensy maiden Blue Eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora) is a common sight throughout much of northern and western North America. It’s so small, it’s hard to spot. Fortunately, it usually grows in big sprawling colonies, which makes it easier to spot. You’ll find it in mountain forests with lots of shade and moist soil.
Collinsia verna
Spring blue eyed mary
Spring blue eyed mary is a flowering annual native to North America. Small clusters of flowers have white and blue petals. Abundant woodland colonies appear like blue carpets. Seeds germinate in the fall and seedlings can overwinter.
Collinsia sparsiflora
Spinster's blue eyed mary
It is an annual herb producing a slender, reddish stem up to 30 centimeters tall with an inflorescence of widely spaced nodes bearing one to three flowers each. The flower has very long, pointed sepals and purple, lavender, or occasionally white flowers.
Show More Species

All Species of Blue eyed Marys

popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
product icon close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
product icon close
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Cookie Management Tool
In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us to improve our application/website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_ga Google Analytics These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. 1 Year
_pta PictureThis Analytics We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_ga
Source
Google Analytics
Purpose
These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_pta
Source
PictureThis Analytics
Purpose
We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.
Lifespan
1 Year
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_fbp Facebook Pixel A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here. 1 Year
_adj Adjust This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_fbp
Source
Facebook Pixel
Purpose
A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_adj
Source
Adjust
Purpose
This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year
This page looks better in the app
Open