Baby Blue Eyes

(Nemophila menziesii)

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Nemophila menziesii, commonly known as Baby Blue Eyes, is an annual herb that is native from Oregon to Baja California, where it thrives in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, forest clearings, and chaparral regions. This plant is highly variable in appearance, typically growing to a height of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) with a similar spread. The flowers of Baby Blue Eyes are its most striking feature, presenting a delicate blue hue with a white center, often adorned with blue veins and black dots near the center. The blooms are about 0.2 to 1.6 inches (6 to 40 millimeters) wide, appearing in the spring and early summer, and are known for their showy, cup-shaped form.

Gardeners appreciate Baby Blue Eyes for its charming flowers and its ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is commonly used in native plant gardens, water-conserving landscapes, traditional flower beds, and wildlife gardens for its ornamental value and ease of maintenance. Baby Blue Eyes prefers full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering, thriving in well-drained soils. While it is not known for serious pest or disease problems, it can self-seed prolifically under ideal conditions. Due to its potential to naturalize, gardeners should be cautious about planting it outside its native range, as it may become invasive in some regions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type:
  • Height: 0.3-0.5 feet
  • Width: 0.5-1 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Blue, White
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention:

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands, forest clearings, and chaparral regions in California

Other Names

Common Names: Baby Blue-Eyes , Baby’s-Blue-Eyes , California Bluebell , Blaue Hainblume , Prins Gustafs Öga

Scientific Names: Nemophila menziesii , Nemophila insignis , Nemophila menziesii var. discoidalis , Nemophila discoidalis , Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii , Nemophila menziesii subsp. menziesii , Nemophila liniflora , Nemophila erosa , Nemophila menziesii subsp. insignis , Nemophila menziesii var. minima

GBIF Accepted Name: Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn.