Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
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$1.00 - $5.60
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This stunning flower grows wild throughout much of western North America, most often springing up in open woodland areas or pine forests. The genus name, Collinsia, honors Philadelphia botanist Zaccheus Collins (1764-1831). This species was first classified in 1835 as Collinsia bicolor by Englishman George Bentham, one of the 19th century’s foremost botanical experts. Chinese Houses supply nectar for many butterflies, as well as being a larval host for the Checkerspot butterfly.
Scientific Name: Collinsia heterophylla
Also Known As: Purple Chinese Houses, Innocence
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): Spring-Early Summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees and Butterflies.
Containers?: Yes. Chinese Houses have bi-colored purple and white blooms that bees and butterflies adore.
Height: 18-24”
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: a plant with narrow, pointed leaves and circular tiers of ½-¾” flowers with two white upper petals and two fuschia lower petals coming from a short, curved tube.
Also Known As: Purple Chinese Houses, Innocence
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): Spring-Early Summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees and Butterflies.
Containers?: Yes. Chinese Houses have bi-colored purple and white blooms that bees and butterflies adore.
Height: 18-24”
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: On soil surface
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: a plant with narrow, pointed leaves and circular tiers of ½-¾” flowers with two white upper petals and two fuschia lower petals coming from a short, curved tube.
Starting Chinese Houses Seed Outdoors for Spring
In Early Spring, direct sow your Chinese Houses seeds outdoors spacing them 12-15" apart. Keep them moist until germination occurs. This plant adapts well to rocky or coarse soil.
Starting Chinese Houses Seeds Outdoors in Fall
For best results, direct sow your Chinese Houses seeds on the surface of the soil in late fall. Chinese Houses seeds need light for germination so take care not to cover the seeds. Press your seeds down firmly for good seed-to-soil contact.
Water your Chinese Houses seedlings regularly until they become established, keeping weeds down to a minimum to avoid competition. Mature plants also appreciate occasional watering, though they can survive short dry periods, they do not tolerate drought well. For the best display of blooms, remove wilted flowers. This plant grows best in moderate climates and does not do well with excessive heat. If allowed to self-seed, it will reproduce itself and establish a colony. This plant attracts bees and butterflies.
For long lasting fresh flowers, cut the stems long and place them in water immediately.
After flowering, the plant will produce tiny seed pods with ripe brown seed. Watch the pods closely, since they will soon split and drop their seeds. Though the pods can be gathered individually as they ripen, an easier method is to pull the entire plant when the majority of the seed pods have ripened; hang it upside down in a protected area where the seeds can safely fall. When the plant has dried completely, thresh the pods that have not split open to remove the rest of the seed. Store the cleaned seed in a cool, dry place.
Chinese Houses occurs as an understory with oaks and other trees. Other plants that occur with it include various native ferns, Clarkia spp, Sisyrinchium spp, and other annual wildflowers.
Suggested Varieties
Clarkia: Deerhorn (Clarkia pulchella)
$1.00 - $5.60
This plant’s genus name, “Clarkia,” was given in recognition of Captain William Clark of the historic Lewis & Clark Expedition. Deerhorn Clarkia can be found in the records of this expedition, first discovered by Clark on May 29th, 1809 and very extensively described in Lewis’ journal of the following day. Lewis entrusted his collection of flower species to botanist Frederick Traugott Pursh, who officially classified Clarkia pulchella in 1814 as the first member of the Clarkia genus. Its common name of “Deerhorn” is derived from the resemblance of the delicately lobed petals to antlers.