Go Back Blue Eyed

Posted: May 7, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Sisyrinchium Bellum
Deer Resistant IconRebloomer Icon

Plant Type: Grasses

This plant is a member of the Iris family, NOT Grass family. However, we have it listed under both.

Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) can be a shy, retiring plant at times. They are small perennials, only 4-12″ tall, with leaves to 1/8″ wide. They start opening their eyes in early June and continue to look around all through June.

Each pretty blue eye sheds a tear when it is finished blooming, in the form of a small round seed capsule filled with tiny black seeds. Perhaps they are tears of happiness or perhaps they are tears of sorrow. This plant is also known as Star Grass by some people because the flowers are distinctly star shaped. Blue-Eyed Grass is actually not a true grass, but a member of the Iris family, closely related to Blue Flag or Wild Iris (Iris versicolor).

Currently not available for online purchase.

Growing & Maintenance Tips:

Blue-Eyed Grass is a native perennial that grows across the prairies and parklands in open meadows. It has been seen growing in a field in northwest Winnipeg along with Prairie Crocus and Three Flowered Avens. John Morgan (Prairie Habitats - see Gardening with Native Prairie Plants) also reported seeing a hillside covered with blooming plants in the Carberry Hills of Manitoba.

Flower Color

Purple

Foliage Color

Green

Plant Spread

6-10" wide

Good Companions

—

Plant Height

6" - 3'

Scape Height

—

Hardness Zone

5-9

Soil Moisture

Moist to dry water needs

Characteristics & Attributes

Attributes

Small/Miniature, Drought tolerant

Bloom Time

April through July or August

Critter Resistance

—

Exposure

Full sun

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasonal Interests

All summer