Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia
Broad leafed collinsia
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia (Broad leafed collinsia) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by leaf width ratio diagnostic.
Broad leafed collinsia is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in conifer forests, often in sandy soil at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces flowers with white to lavender petals arranged in distinctive whorls. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in open forest clearings. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, typically two to five times longer than wide, creating a graceful branching structure. The flower's upper lip features subtle projections that bulge slightly away from the throat, giving the blossoms a charming, intricate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; leaf width ratio diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, often in sandy soil
Elevation: 1000-2500 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Colusa, Mono, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Alpine, Kern, Tulare, Mariposa, El Dorado, Fresno
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia blooms Jun-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 torreyi var. latifolia native to California?
Yes. Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia bloom?
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia grow?
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia occurs in Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 1000-2500 m.
What plant family does Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia belong to?
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia grow in?
Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia grows in Conifer forest, often in sandy soil.
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.