Baby blue eyes
Nemophila menziesii
Care
full sun, part shade
low
Fast, Medium; Sandy to loamy.
0–0ft tall , 0–0ft wide
Mar-May
Friendly
Prized
Grasslands and oak woodlands throughout California from the north coast to Baja California, below 3500 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Baby Blue Eyes in full sun in sandy to loamy soil with fast to medium drainage - this is key, as it won't tolerate soggy conditions. Plant in spring to catch the bloom season (March through May), spacing seedlings a few inches apart. This annual is forgiving about soil type and grows well throughout the Bay Area, even at higher elevations, so focus on getting the drainage right rather than amending heavily.
After Planting
Water regularly during establishment, but once the plant is growing, dial it back to just twice a month or less during summer - this is a drought-tolerant wildflower that actually prefers dry conditions once established. Baby Blue Eyes is an annual that blooms in spring and won't need pruning; the biggest mistake people make is overwatering, which leads to root rot and cuts the bloom season short. Treat it as a cool-season annual: it thrives in spring, may decline in summer heat, and won't return the following year, so plan to reseed or replant annually if you want the display to continue.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California Threatened; Species of Special Concern
California species of special concern
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Night-blooming nectar resource
Multi-generational butterfly using flowers for nectar
Adult nectar source during activity period
Butterfly nectar resource during bloom
Early spring nectar source