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Collinsia heterophylla (Purple chinese houses)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Collinsia heterophylla Buist ex Graham

Purple Chinese houses, Harlequin blue-eyed Mary, Chinese houses

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Symbol: COHE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Lush white, rose & purple blooms are tiered in whorls near the top of the 2 ft. stalks of this annual. Bilaterally symmetrical flowers in several widely spaced whorls at top of a sparsely leafy stem. The flowers have a lilac or white upper lip and a rose-purple or violet lower lip. Bright-green, lance-shaped leaves clasp the stem. A velvety fuzz often covers the entire plant, including the flowers.

Few of Californias spectacular wildflowers are as charming as this one. The flowers grow in perfect rings of widely spaced bands around the stem, forming a fairytale pagoda, the Chinese houses. There are about 20 Collinsia species, most in California, distinguished from other genera by the corollas folded middle lower lobe. In this respect it resembles members of the Pea Family, which, however, have 5 petals not joined into a tubular base, and usually 10 stamens rather than 4.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , IL , KY
Native Distribution: Cismontane CA
Native Habitat: A variety of shaded places below 2500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Various slightly humusy soils.
Conditions Comments: The flowering season can be prolonged by removing the withering flowers before the fruit has set. Where well-established and allowed to seed, this species will form permanent colonies.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Sow seeds in both the fall and early spring for the maximum season of flowering.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Collinsia heterophylla in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Collinsia heterophylla in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Collinsia heterophylla

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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