Spring Blue-eyed Mary Plant Care
Collinsia verna Nutt.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Collinsia verna, or blue-eyed Mary, is a winter annual that is native to the eastern and central parts of North America but has become endangered in the states of New York and Tennessee. The flowers are bicolored white and blue.
Every 4–7 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Water Spring Blue-eyed Mary every 4–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Spring Blue-eyed Mary Native To?
What Is the Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Spring Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) belongs to the Plantaginaceae family within the Collinsia genus. Spring Blue-eyed Mary is native to the eastern and central parts of North America. Spring Blue-eyed Mary is also known as Vernal Blue-eyed Mary, Young Heart.
Spring Blue-eyed Mary displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Spring Blue-eyed Mary produces tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Collinsia verna requires watering every 4–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 4–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Spring Blue-eyed Mary Need?
Spring Blue-eyed Mary thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Spring Blue-eyed Mary Prefer?
Collinsia verna grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Spring Blue-eyed Mary prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Spring Blue-eyed Mary to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Feed Spring Blue-eyed Mary every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Spring Blue-eyed Mary can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese houses plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Spring Blue-eyed Mary Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Spring Blue-eyed Mary, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Spring Blue-eyed Mary?
Spring Blue-eyed Mary is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Spring Blue-eyed Mary Need?
Spring Blue-eyed Mary grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Spring Blue-eyed Mary is native to the eastern and central parts of North America. In cooler regions, grow Spring Blue-eyed Mary as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Spring Blue-eyed Mary is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Collinsia genus — compare its care with other Collinsia species on PlantoScan.
Collinsia is part of the Plantaginaceae plant family — browse all Plantaginaceae genera and species.
Spring Blue-eyed Mary thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Collinsia Species
Other Collinsia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Collinsia verna Nutt., family Plantaginaceae (first published in J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 190 (1817)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Spring Blue-eyed Mary, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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