Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Collinsia verna (Spring blue eyed mary)
Faucette, Steven

Collinsia verna Nutt.

Spring blue eyed Mary, Spring Blue-eyed Mary

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Symbol: COVE2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A weak stem bearing whorls of 4-6 stalked, 2-lipped, blue and white flowers rising from axils of opposite, mostly stalkless leaves.

This plant is sometimes so abundant in woodlands as to form a blue carpet on the forest floor. The seeds of this delicate winter annual are shed in the summer and germinate in the fall, the seedlings persisting through the winter. The genus name honors Zaccheus Collins (1764-1831), a Philadelphia botanist. The species name is the Latin word for spring and describes the flowering time.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MI , MO , NY , OH , OK , PA , TN , VA , WI , WV
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Ontario and New York south to Virginia, southwest to Tennessee and Oklahoma, and north to Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Native Habitat: Damp open woods.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-04-19
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back