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Wallace, George

Collinsia verna

Collinsia verna Nutt.

Spring Blue Eyed Mary, Spring Blue-eyed Mary

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: cove2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

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

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb

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.

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.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC				FAC	FAC		FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

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: 2019-03-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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