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Texas baby blue eyes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Nemophila
Species:
N. phacelioides
Binomial name
Nemophila phacelioides

Nemophila phacelioides, commonly called large-flower baby-blue-eyes or Texas baby-blue-eyes, [1] [2] is a flowering plant in the waterleaf family ( Hydrophyllaceae). It is native to the South Central United States, where it is found in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. [3] Its natural habitat is in woodland openings in riparian bottoms, in sandy or silty soils. [4]

Description

Nemophila phacelioides is an herbaceous annual. It blooms in the spring, where it produces large showy flowers with a blue or purple outer edge, fading into white. [4] The flowers are about an inch wide, and have five petals. The leaves of the plant are irregular, with about 7-10 teeth. The plant grows about 10 inches tall, and can often form a blanket cover over the ground. [5]

Cultivation

This plant performs well in the shade, and needs slightly moist soil. Baby Blue Eyes do well sown from seed, with about 12 inches of spacing. [5] Seeds can be collected by tying a bag to the flower head.

References

  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Nemophila phacelioides". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  2. ^ Nemophila phacelioides Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Society
  3. ^ "Nemophila phacelioides". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b Diggs, George; Lipscomb, Barney; O'Kennon, Robert (1999). Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. p. 742.
  5. ^ a b Nemophila Species, Largeflower Baby Blue Eyes Dave's Garden