Tag Archives: iris

Blue-eyed Grass

Gardeners Journal Posted on by

We purchased cultivars of Idaho Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium idahense s. angustifolium) for our flower garden.

  • Blue-eyed grass is a short perennial in the iris family.
  • Leaves are basal and are long and narrow, almost grass-like.
  • Flowers are blue to purple with a yellow eye.   The petals have pointed tips.
  • Blooms appear in late spring.
  • All photos by the author.   Click and image for a lightbox (larger) view.

 

 

  • Capsules (egg-shaped) form after flowering, over the summer.
  • In our area we have spotted them in middle elevations on the edges of grasslands or in grassy glades.
  • Sightings have been in the Quilchena Plateau, in the Lundbom Commonage, and in the Lac du Bois Grasslands, but it is generally rarely seen in B.C.
  • We always watch for blue-eyed grass in areas where we have spotted it in the past and we try to hike those areas each year.    It is a delicate beauty, a special experience to see and photograph it in late spring.

 

In the garden, we have planted it in a perennial bed, close to a walkway.    It would be a mistake to place it among or behind taller plants.

  • Plant in a sunny location.
  • Keep the soil moist.
  • Poor soil is fine.    Be spare with fertilizer and mulch.
  • Flowers open in the morning and close up somewhat later in the day (esp. on hot days).
  • Deadhead for more blooms.
  • Cut back the stems after flowering to avoid reseeding.
  • They tend to form clumps (the rhizomes spread).    Divide every few years to have more plants.
  • They can be grown from seed, but they need stratification.

 

This is a small delicate flower, best suited to a prime location as long as there is sun, but not drought.    One of our favorites …