Scientific Name: Nemophila Discoidalis
Also Known As: Penny Black or Baby Black Eyes.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): Early spring to late summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees & Butterflies and Hummingbirds.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 4”
Spacing: 6”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: Masses of small, 1" deep violet to black flowers that are edged with white.
Garden Uses: Excellent choice for massed plantings, containers, and borders.
Also Known As: Penny Black or Baby Black Eyes.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): Early spring to late summer
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees & Butterflies and Hummingbirds.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 4”
Spacing: 6”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: Masses of small, 1" deep violet to black flowers that are edged with white.
Garden Uses: Excellent choice for massed plantings, containers, and borders.
Direct sow in early spring, pressing lightly into the surface of the soil since this seed needs light to germinate. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination, which should occur within 10-20 days. When the seedlings can safely be handled, thin or transplant for wider spacing. For an early start, start the seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant outdoors.
Keep the young plants watered until they become established; mature plants tolerate drought well, though they will benefit from occasional watering. This annual grows quickly and dies with the first frost, though it may reseed for a new crop next year. Its neat, sprawling growth habit makes it an excellent choice for massed plantings, containers, and borders. Keep in mind that this plant does not do well in excessive heat and dislikes being transplanted. These blooms attract butterflies and bees.
These short-lived blossoms do not make good cut flowers, and are best enjoyed in the wild.
After the flowers fade, small pods will form that eventually open at the top to reveal the ripe seeds. Gather the seeds as soon as the pods have opened; watch them carefully to prevent loss. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
This species works very well with other annual or herbaceous perennial wildflowers in a meadow garden, including the closely related Five Spot (Nemophila maculata), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Clarkia sp., Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla), Gilia sp., Lupinus sp., Penstemon sp., Phacelia sp., and many others. Also works well with geophytes such as Brodiaea sp., Mariposa Lily (Calochortus sp.) and Dichelostemma sp., as well as various catcus and succulent species such as Dudleya sp.
Suggested Varieties
Five Spot (Nemophila maculata)
$1.00 - $5.60
Nemophila maculata is a species of flowering plant in the Borage family, Boraginaceae. It is an annual herb that flowers in the spring, and it is endemic to California. In the wild it is found primarily in the Sierra foothills, but it is also planted extensively in gardens. The seeds are often included in wildflower mixes. The flowers are bowl-shaped consisting of five petals, white with dark veins and dots. The lobe tips are purple-spotted, leading to the common name. The corolla is 1 to 2 centimeters long and up to 5 centimeters wide. The leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and 1.5 wide, and are divided into several smooth or toothed lobes.
Poppy, California: Dwarf (Eschscholzia caespitosa)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States. This dwarf species can easily be mistaken for the state flower of California, though it has a small disc at the base of each blossom where the state flower remains smooth.
Poppy, California: Carmine King (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: Golden West (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: Ivory Castle (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: Mikado (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: Orange (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These golden wildflowers have been the state flower of California since 1903. Their habit of opening and closing with the sun makes them appropriate emblems for the Golden State; they also have a holiday all their own, since April 6 is official California Poppy Day. This poppy was the first identified member of the Eschscholzia genus, identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named the genus after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. In 1826, noted English botanist David Douglas gathered seed from this species for the Royal Botanical Society; this poppy became one of the first American poppies to cross the ocean to Europe.
Poppy, California: Purple Gleam (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: Red Chief (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
Poppy, California: White Linen (Eschscholzia californica)
$1.00 - $5.60
These poppies have a habit of opening and closing with the sun, appropriate for their native Golden State. The first member of the California poppy genus was identified in 1816 by German botanist Adelbert von Chamisso on an exploratory voyage to California and the Pacific Northwest. Chamisso named this genus “Eschscholzia” after a fellow botanist, Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, who accompanied him on the journey. Nearly a dozen species of poppy grow wild in the western United States.
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.
Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
$1.00 - $5.60
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.
Bird's Eye (Gilia tricolor)
$1.00 - $5.60
The Gilia genus contains mostly desert-loving plants, native to the area stretching from the western United States to South America. Spanish botanists Hipólito Ruiz and José Antonio Pavón found the first known Gilia species on their expedition to South America, later detailing it among other species in a 1794 publication of their research from Peru and Chile. They gave this family of flowers the name Gilia in honor of Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756-1821), an Italian naturalist whom they greatly admired for his research in South American native plant life at the Vatican Observatory.
Lupine: Arroyo (Lupinus succulentus)
$1.00 - $5.60
This wildflower can be found growing throughout the American southwest; it is especially widespread in California, its native state. The name Lupine comes from the Latin “lupus,” meaning wolf. This refers to the folk belief that this plant took nutrients from the soil. Ironically, this plant actually improves the soil because of its nitrogen fixing abilities.
Lupine: Russell (Lupinus polyphyllus)
$1.00 - $5.60
George Russell, a self-taught horticulturalist from Great Britain, produced this lovely hybrid in the early 1920’s after nearly two decades of cross-breeding and experimentation. On being honored by the Royal Horticultural Society for his achievement, Mr. Russell stated that all the really crucial work had been done by the humble little bees in his garden. The name Lupine comes from the Latin “lupus,” meaning wolf. This refers to the folk belief that this plant took nutrients from the soil. Ironically, this plant actually improves the soil because of its nitrogen fixing abilities.
Lupine: Sky (Lupinus nanus)
$1.00 - $5.60
This wildflower was first found near the Columbia River and described in 1828 by Scotsman David Douglas, the first botanist to methodically find and classify over 250 plants in the northwestern region of the United States.The name Lupine comes from the Latin “lupus,” meaning wolf. This refers to the folk belief that this plant took nutrients from the soil. Ironically, this plant actually improves the soil because of its nitrogen fixing abilities.
Penstemon: Palmer's (Penstemon palmeri)
$1.00 - $5.60
This Beardtongue was named after the British botanist Edward Palmer, and is found native to desert mountains from easter Mojave to Utah and in New Mexico. Growing in washes, roadsides, canyon floors, and other similar areas, this plant is a tough, drought and heat resistant species. This wildflower is most notable for it's tall spikes of showy light pink blooms. Favored by bumblebees who like to squeeze themselves into the bulbous throats of the flowers!
Penstemon: Rocky Mountain (Penstemon strictus)
$1.00 - $5.60
Hardy, drought tolerant, and stunningly beautiful, what more could you want? Rich indigo blooms tower high on this Beardtongue, and are loved by hummingbirds and bees. Rocky Mountain Penstemon is one of the easiest Beardtongues to grow, and has a long blooming period of about a month in the Spring. A real show stopper!
Penstemon: Scarlet Queen (Penstemon Hartwegii)
$1.00 - $5.60
A striking, upright plant suitable for sunny wildflower gardens, borders and rock gardens, "Scarlet Queen" penstemon (Penstemon hartwegii "Scarlet Queen") displays tubular-shaped blooms of bright red with white centers all summer long. Native to the western United States, this prairie plant reaches mature heights of 2 to 3 feet. "Scarlet Queen" penstemon is perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.