blue-eyed Mary
Collinsia verna
Overview
The blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) stands out with its beautiful petite purple blooms and deep blue eyes. The plant grows to be around eight inches in height and blooms from mid-spring to early summer. The blue-eyed Mary is drought tolerant and only requires light watering. Additionally, its hardy nature adapts easily to most garden soils and is a great choice for a low maintenance garden. Its fragrant blooms attract butterflies and bees making it a great addition for a butterfly garden. The blue-eyed Mary is a great choice for a garden because of its long-lasting bloom, low care requirements, and its vibrant colours.
Care Guide
Watering
Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) should be watered about once or twice a week. It prefers regular but infrequent watering, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. It is important to avoid over-watering to prevent root rot. If planted in full sun, make sure it doesn't dry out during periods of extended heat. In areas with hot summers, provide some shade from the direct sun and place the plant in a spot that gets morning sun but is shaded from the afternoon sun. Water deeply during occasional dry spells to supplement the normal weekly waterings.
Light
Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) thrives in full sun to part shade, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Prefers moist, well-drained soils, but is capable of taking some dryness. While direct sunlight is preferred, it should not be left in direct sunlight for extended periods as its leaves tend to burn easily.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 2-11.
Pruning
Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna) should be pruned in late fall or early spring, after blooming. Pruning should involve removing up to 1-third of the oldest stems at the base each spring. Depending on where the plants are grown, they may need to be pruned less frequently. Too much pruning can result in sparse blooms and reduced flowering.
Propagation
Seed Propagation, Division, Root Cutting, Layering Propagation
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