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

Flower profile

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary

Collinsia parviflora

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary (Collinsia parviflora) is a flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–June across the U.S.

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 where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
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
  • 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 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 532 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #82 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (904 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
IdahoNativefew records (48)826
MontanaNativefew records (34)532

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.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Small-flowered blue-eyed mary a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.6 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.6 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
95
Annual precipitation range
16 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for COPA3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Probably introduced; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Antirrhinum tenellum, Collinsia tenella.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 253 counties across 18 states; the most are in Washington (34), Idaho (33), Oregon (32).

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bird's-eye speedwell, Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Foxglove beardtongue, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax, Culver's root.

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Sources