Baby blue eyes Nemophila menziesii
Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) is an annual flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to Grassland and chaparral of California, Oregon and Baja California. It grows 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall and 15–30 cm (6–12 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 15 cm (6 in) apart.
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Baby blue eyes at a glance
| Type | Annual flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 cm (4–8 in) |
| Mature spread | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) |
| Spacing | 15 cm (6 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 28 °C (82 °F) |
| Flowering | about 7–10 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 90 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Grassland and chaparral of California, Oregon and Baja California |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
Is Baby blue eyes toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Baby blue eyes
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Baby blue eyes
- How far apart should I plant Baby blue eyes?
- About 15 cm (6 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 15–30 cm (6–12 in).
- Does Baby blue eyes need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Baby blue eyes need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Baby blue eyes?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Baby blue eyes flower?
- About 7–10 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks.
- Is Baby blue eyes poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
- What grows well with Baby blue eyes?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Baby blue eyes. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Calscape: California native plants, California Native Plant Society
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- A cool-season annual with sky-blue cups with white centres over ferny leaves in spring. Sow in autumn where it is to flower (spring in cold climates). Millions planted at Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan turn a hill blue every April.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans