Nemophila menziesii
Common names
Baby Blue-eyes; Penny Black
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified description
Trailing annual herb, sometimes slightly woody at base. Flowers ca 4 cm diameter, mostly blue with white centre, but other colours in cultivation include ‘Penny Black’ with purple-black petals with narrow white margins; and var. atomaria with white to pale lilac flowers with scattered darker speckles (= ‘Snow Storm’) or a larger purple spot on outer rim of each petal. Plants soft with deeply incised-to-pinnate leaves.
Flower colours
Black, Blue, Purple, White
Habitat
Drought tolerant. Self-sows freely in gardens once established and spreads to gravel paths and driveways.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Sometimes placed in F. Boraginaceae subfamily Hydrophylloideae
Ecology
Year naturalised
2011
Origin
California
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Propagation technique
Seed