Nemophila menziesii

We could not live without this favorite California wildflower. Nemophila menziesii, commonly called baby blue eyes, brings clear spring-sky blue flowers to the garden, each 1–1.5" bloom glowing beautifully above soft, low foliage. It is sweet, easy, and absolutely perfect for filling open spaces with fresh seasonal color.

Baby blue eyes is wonderful at the front of borders, along pathways, in containers, under spring-blooming shrubs, or spilling gently over bed edges. Its true blue flowers pair beautifully with California poppies, tidy tips, clarkias, lupines, violas, grasses, and other meadow-style annuals. Bees and beneficial insects appreciate the blooms, while gardeners love the soft, natural look and cheerful spring presence.

Plant Nemophila menziesii in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil and regular moisture during active growth. In mild climates, it is especially lovely as a cool-season annual and may self-sow where happy. Charming, native, and wonderfully blue, it is a must for California wildflower plantings. Explore more in our Nemophila collection.

Only 4–6 inches tall, baby blue eyes works on a wonderfully intimate scale. Plant it where the small flowers can be seen up close—along a path, beneath taller spring annuals, at the front of a border, or in a pot near the door. In a loose group, the blooms read as a little patch of California sky dropped into the garden.