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Nemophila menziesii
Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn.
Baby Blue Eyes, Menzies Baby Blue Eyes
Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: NEME
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I)
A small, trailing annual, 6 in. tall and 1 ft. wide, Menzies baby-blue-eyes is well-known for its bright-blue, five-petaled, bowl-shaped flowers with white centers. These occur in clusters at branch tips. The branches and deeply cut leaves are hairy.
One of the most charming and best-known spring wildflowers in California, it is often included in commercial wildflower seed mixtures and has been cultivated in England for more than a century. Closely related is the equally delightful Fivespot (N. maculata) of central California, with white petals, each with a large blue-violet spot at the base.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , BlueBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , NV , ORNative Distribution: Willamette V., OR; Coast Ranges through CA south into Baja California
Native Habitat: Mt. meadows; moist woods; cool, north slopes
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, fertile soils.
Conditions Comments: This is a quick and easy annual which does best if given afternoon shade.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Broadcast seed in fall in warm-winter areas; spring in cold-winter areas. Cool temperatures (less than 70 degrees) are necessary for uniform germination. Darkness for the first 3 days also improves uniformity.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 on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Nemophila menziesii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Nemophila menziesii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Nemophila menziesii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-20Research By: TWC Staff