Collinsia verna aka Spring Blue Eyed Mary

Collinsia verna, or blue-eyed Mary, is a spring woodland wildflower. This annual belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. Its native range spans southeastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. It grows in rich woods, on slopes, and in valleys. It also grows on the floodplains of small streams. Its United States range includes Iowa, Wisconsin, and New York. It extends south to Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia.

The plant has thin, weak stems and a loose form. Its medium-green leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Garden plants can reach 2 feet [0.61 metres] tall. Their spread can reach 1.5 feet [0.46 metres]. In the wild, plants may form broad, sprawling patches. These drifts can cover an acre or more. This massed growth makes the spring flowers stand out across woodland ground.

Flowers open in April and May, with clear blue-and-white colour. Each flower has two lips with an uneven shape. Two white lobes form the upper part of the flower. Two blue lobes form the lower part. A fifth lobe stays folded and hidden within the flower. Slender flower stalks rise from the leaf axils. The flowers often sit in whorls of four to six. Their two colours give the plant its main garden interest.

Blue-eyed Mary grows best in moist, rich loam that drains well. Choose light shade or a place with dappled sun. It needs a medium amount of water in cultivation. This is a winter annual, with seeds sprouting in fall. The small young plants then live through winter. Sow seed from summer into early fall to follow this cycle. Plants can self-seed and renew a planting in later years. Missouri Botanical Garden lists it for USDA zones 2–11.

Use groups of plants in an open woodland garden. It also suits cottage gardens and areas allowed to naturalize. Annual beds and mixed borders offer other places to grow it. Its loose growth and spring bloom suit planting in masses. Missouri Botanical Garden rates its upkeep as low. It reports no serious problems with insects or disease. The supplied sources give no guidance on edible uses or toxicity. They also do not describe medicinal uses.