Collinsia multicolor
San francisco collinsia, San Francisco Collinsia
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Collinsia multicolor (San francisco collinsia) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by tall weak stems and two-toned flowers diagnostic.
San francisco collinsia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern and central Coast ranges, specifically San Mateo County, in moist and somewhat shady scrub and forest habitats at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white and lavender to blue-purple flowers 12 to 18 millimeters long with distinctive bicolored petals. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with loosely branched, weak stems, it develops an open, delicate structure. Its middle and upper leaves are lance-shaped, clasping the stem and typically coarsely toothed, with lower leaves alternating in arrangement. The flowers feature a white upper lip and a vibrant lavender to blue-purple lower lip with obovate lateral lobes that are sometimes notched.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; tall weak stems and two-toned flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, +- shady scrub, forest
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: San Mateo, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Collinsia multicolor blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 multicolor native to California?
Yes. Collinsia multicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia multicolor bloom?
Collinsia multicolor blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Collinsia multicolor grow?
Collinsia multicolor occurs in San Mateo, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Collinsia multicolor belong to?
Collinsia multicolor is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
Is Collinsia multicolor rare or endangered?
Collinsia multicolor carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.