Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Disturbed ground, gardens and roadsides

Flowers: April-September

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Taprooted annual, somewhat hairy below and puberulent above, the stem erect to nearly prostrate, 0.5-3 dm. long, simple or branched below.

Leaves opposite, ovate to broadly elliptic, 1.5-2.5 cm. long and half as wide to nearly as wide as long, with rounded serrations, the lower short-petiolate, the upper sessile.

Inflorescence a terminal, bracteate, condensed or elongate, spike-like raceme; bracts alternate, narrower than the leaves, each subtending a single flower; calyx of 4 sepals; corolla blue-violet, 2-2.5 mm. wide, rotate, 4-lobed, the upper lobe the largest; pedicels 1-2 mm. long; style 0.4-1 mm. long; stamens 2.

Capsule 3 mm. high, obcordate.