Collinsia rattanii
Rattan's blue eyed mary
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia rattanii (Rattan's blue eyed mary) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by narrow leaves with contrasting upper/lower surfaces diagnostic.
Rattan's blue eyed mary is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, western Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada in open conifer forest at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces purple-lavender flowers with white variations, small and delicate, typically 4 to 8 millimeters long. Growing 8 to 40 centimeters tall with slender, spreading stems, it has an open and somewhat delicate growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive, generally more than 6 times longer than wide, linear with margins rolled under, finely hairy with a gray-green upper surface and purplish lower surface. The plant produces 2 to 6 seeds that are plump to narrowly winged, adding to its unique botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; narrow leaves with contrasting upper/lower surfaces diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest
Elevation: 100-1500 m
California counties: Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Del Norte, Glenn, Tehama, Plumas, Mendocino, Shasta, Colusa, Mariposa
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Collinsia rattanii blooms May-Aug.
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 rattanii native to California?
Yes. Collinsia rattanii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia rattanii bloom?
Collinsia rattanii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Collinsia rattanii grow?
Collinsia rattanii occurs in Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Del Norte, Glenn, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 100-1500 m.
What plant family does Collinsia rattanii belong to?
Collinsia rattanii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia rattanii grow in?
Collinsia rattanii 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.