Bloomipedia
Small-flowered blue-eyed mary (Collinsia parviflora)
Photo: Erik Schiff via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary

Collinsia parviflora

Native in the lower 48

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.

19states
2of our state lists
5,857U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana

Quick look

Collinsia parviflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae known by the common names maiden blue eyed Mary and small-flowered collinsia.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Idaho and Montana. NatureServe
  • In Idaho, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 826 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #29 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 532 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #82 among the 109 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary gift ideas

Handmade small-flowered blue-eyed mary gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (904 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
IdahoNativeApril–June826
MontanaNativeApril–June532

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S2), ND (S2), VT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records small-flowered blue-eyed mary in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gooding, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lincoln, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Power, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Powell, Rosebud, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Teton.

More Idaho flowers

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris)

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)

Linaria vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: June–October
Balkan toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

Balkan toadflax

Linaria dalmatica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: May–October
Hot rock penstemon (Penstemon deustus)

Hot rock penstemon

Penstemon deustus

Native

🌼 Blooms in ID: May–July

Sources