Collinsia linearis
Narrow leaf collinsia
(c) Rob Santry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia linearis (Narrow leaf collinsia) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by linear leaves >6x longer than wide diagnostic.
Narrow leaf collinsia is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges and northern North Coast Ranges in open conifer forest at elevations of 200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to blue-purple flowers 8 to 12 millimeters long with a distinctive square-shaped throat pouch. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with spreading stems, it features linear leaves more than six times longer than wide with margins rolled underneath. Its leaves are generally narrow and elongated, with delicate margins that curl slightly inward. The flowers have an unusual structure with upper filament lobes that bulge slightly away from the throat opening, creating a distinctive botanical profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; linear leaves >6x longer than wide diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest
Elevation: 200-2000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Placer, Modoc, Nevada, Los Angeles
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Collinsia linearis blooms May-Jul.
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 linearis native to California?
Yes. Collinsia linearis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia linearis bloom?
Collinsia linearis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Collinsia linearis grow?
Collinsia linearis occurs in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Placer, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 200-2000 m.
What plant family does Collinsia linearis belong to?
Collinsia linearis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia linearis grow in?
Collinsia linearis grows in Open conifer forest.
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.