Purple Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla) is in the Plantain Family family (Plantaginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,204 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Purple Chinese Houses: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla (syn. Collinsia bicolor), known as purple Chinese houses or innocence, is a flowering plant native to California and the Peninsular Ranges in northern Baja California.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Chinese Houses by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,203 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Plantain Family)
Bird's-Eye Speedwell
Ribwort Plantain
Common Toadflax
White Turtlehead
Purple Foxglove
Canada toadflax
Ghost Flower
Foxglove Beardtongue
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Purple Chinese Houses?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Purple Chinese Houses most often seen?
The most observations come from California.