Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia
White blue eyed mary
Photo: parent species Collinsia bartsiifolia · (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia (White blue eyed mary) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family.
White blue eyed mary is a California native annual found in northern coastal ranges, interior coastal ranges, California Ranges, central and southern Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi, Central Valley, southern San Francisco Bay, southern coastal ranges, and northern Transverse Ranges in open, sandy places at elevations generally below 600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers with corolla 15 to 20 millimeters long, featuring lips with lateral lobes that are slightly notched. Growing 20 to 35 centimeters tall with delicate, branching stems, it forms a slender, upright annual herb. Its leaves are arranged along the stems, likely creating a fine, feathery appearance characteristic of the blue eyed mary species. The plant's distinctive two-toned flowers and preference for sandy, open habitats make it a charming wildflower of California's diverse landscapes.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, sandy places
Elevation: generally < 600 m
California counties: Calaveras, Kern, Monterey, Lake, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Colusa, Tulare, Alameda, Sutter, San Joaquin, Madera, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, El Dorado, Amador, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, Solano, Merced, Humboldt, Shasta
Bloom period
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Collinsia has stamens hidden in keeled lower lip; Penstemon has stamens visible with one sterile 'beard.'; vs Stachys: Collinsia has a keeled lower petal hiding stamens; Stachys has square stems and flowers in tight whorls.; vs Lupinus: Collinsia has snapdragon-like flowers; Lupinus has pea-family flowers with banner, wings, and keel.; vs Linaria: Collinsia has keeled lower lip hiding stamens; Linaria has spurred flowers with protruding stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia native to California?
Yes. Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia bloom?
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia grow?
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia occurs in Calaveras, Kern, Monterey, Lake, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Colusa, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of generally < 600 m.
What plant family does Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia belong to?
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia grow in?
Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia grows in Open, sandy places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.