woodland wildflower
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Nemophila menziesii
Also known as Baby Blue Eyes, Menzies Baby Blue Eyes
1 of 3Native to California and Oregon
Willamette Valley, Oregon; Coast Ranges through California south into Baja California
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Feb–May Flowering time
- Height up to 6 in to 15 cm
- Life cycle Annual Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for partial shade and evenly moist soil. Its blue flowers peak in March. At up to 6 in, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Menzies' baby blue eyes's blue flowers bloom February to May, peaking in March. This early-spring display draws bees and butterflies.
Menzies' baby blue eyes blooms blueFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Tripartite Sweat Bee, Prong-faced Slender-Mason +8 more
Black-legged Miner, Meadowfoam Miner, Osmia nemoris, torulosa species group, Andrena crudeni, Panurginus occidentalis, Habropoda depressa, Arizona Small carpenter - Butterflies Monarch
also Fiery Skipper, Common Ringlet, Silvery Blue +6 more
Margined White, Sonoran Blue, Western Brown Elfin, Sara Orangetip, White Checkered-Skipper, Coenonympha california california - Flower flies Margined Calligrapher
also Greater Bee Fly, Large-tailed Aphideater, The Merodon equestris Group +1 more
Western Calligrapher - Also visited by
- Moths: Small Heliothodes Moth, White Annaphila
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Common ringletnectar
- Fiery skippernectar
- Monarch butterflynectar
- Silvery bluenectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- California and OregonUnited States (2): CA, OR. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Willamette Valley, Oregon; Coast Ranges through California south into Baja CaliforniaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Moist, fertile soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 6 in (to 15 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Feb–MayWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- BlueThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.