Collinsia wrightii
Torrey's blue eyed mary
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Collinsia wrightii (Torrey's blue eyed mary) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by 1 look-alike (C. latifolia); narrow linear leaves >5× longer than wide; wide montane range.
Collinsia wrightii is a California native found in the North Coast Ranges High, Cascade Ranges High, Sierra Nevada High, Tehachapi Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and Warner Mountains bioregions in conifer forest, often in sandy, granitic soil, at elevations from 800 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this 4 to 25 centimeter plant has linear to elliptic leaves and an open, densely glandular inflorescence with strongly reflexed, S-shaped pedicels. The corolla, generally 4 to 9 millimeters long, shows a blue to lavender-purple throat and lower lip against a whitish to pale lavender upper lip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 look-alike (C. latifolia); narrow linear leaves >5× longer than wide; wide montane range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, often in sandy, granitic soil
Elevation: 800--4000 m
Bloom period
Collinsia wrightii 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 wrightii native to California?
Yes. Collinsia wrightii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Collinsia wrightii bloom?
Collinsia wrightii blooms May--Aug.
What plant family does Collinsia wrightii belong to?
Collinsia wrightii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Collinsia.
What habitat does Collinsia wrightii grow in?
Collinsia wrightii grows in Conifer forest, often in sandy, granitic soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Collinsia antonina — San antonio collinsia
- Collinsia bartsiifolia — White blue eyed mary
- Collinsia bartsiifolia var. bartsiifolia — White blue eyed mary
- Collinsia bartsiifolia var. davidsonii — Davidson's blue eyed mary
- Collinsia bartsiifolia var. stricta — White blue eyed mary
- Collinsia callosa — Desert collinsia
- Cymbalaria muralis — Kenilworth ivy
- Cymbalaria sp.
- Digitalis purpurea — Purple foxglove
- Digitalis sp. — Foxglove
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.