Sisyrinchium

( siss - ir - RINK - ee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of small flowering perennials needs full sun to light shade. They are relatives of Iris, and their flowers open up in sunshine. Commonly called Blue-Eyed Grasses, these plants are not true grasses, but their foliage is grass-like. They are native to much of the Western Hemisphere, and are great for informal gardens, cottage gardens or for naturalizing in large swaths at outer edges of the landscape. Take care when selecting and planting certain species in this genus, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets.

sisyrinchium Species and Varietals

Sysirinchium is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes over 200 distinct species. Sisyrinchium grows well in zones 4-9 and 14-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Sisyrinchium albidum (White Blue-Eyed Grass)
These plants typically form greyish threadlike flowering stems topped with white to violet-colored flowers. They are native to most of North America, and reach up to 20 inches tall when in bloom.

Sisyrinchium bellum (Western Blue-Eyed Grass, Californian Blue-Eyed Grass)
This species is the most common of the Blue-Eyed Grasses in California and Oregon natural landscapes. They colonize in open places with some moisture, and love grasslands, woodlands, and high altitudes. Plants can reach up to 2 feet tall and produce grassy foliage. Flowers are blue to purple, occasionally white. Flowers bloom between March and July, peaking in April.

Sisyrinchium bermudiana (Bermudiana, Blue-Eyed Grass)
These plants are popularly grown in Bermuda, and appears and blooms throughout springtime. It is a totemic flower for Bermudians, appearing in art, jewelry, banknotes, and other places.

Sisyrinchium californicum (Yellow-Eyed Grass, Golden Blue-Eyed Grass, Golden-Eyed Grass)
This species is from the coastal regions of California up to British Columbia and reaches 6-24 inches tall and 8-10 inches wide. Leaves are a dull green and flowers are yellow with brown veining, blooming in late spring and early summer. This species needs ample water to perform and bloom well.

Sisyrinchium idahoense bellum (Sisyrinchium bellum) (Idaho Blue-Eyed Grass)
This species, native to the Oregon and California coastlines, grows well in zones 2-9 and 14-24. It reaches 4-24 inches tall and 6-24 inches wide, with bluish-green leaves and purple flowers that bloom in spring. This species requires moderate to regular water. Varieties include 'Devon Skies' (4-6 inches tall; dwarf form) and Sisyrinchium idahoense macounii 'Album' (with white flowers).

Sisyrinchium striatum (Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass, Satin Flower)
This native of Chile and Argentina reaches 3 feet tall and a foot wide, and has grey-green leaves and yellow flowers that bloom in spikes in spring (typically between the months of May and June). This species reseeds freely, and needs moderate water to bloom well. Variety 'Aunt May' ('Variegatum') has leaves striped with creamy yellow.

Caring for Sisyrinchium

Sisyrinchium plants are typically either grown from seed or purchased as starts from a reputable nursery and planted out in spring or fall. For the best coverage, install Blue-Eyed Grasses 1 to 2 feet apart from each other and other plants. Plant your Sisyrinchium in a space in the garden that is ready to handle a clump-forming, naturalizing plant. The planting area should be free of seasonal flooding as well; the roots of these plants do not like to sit in water, preferring dry conditions while dormant in wintertime. They do best in full sun; ideally, Blue-Eyed Grasses appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for best performance and flowering. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 7.0 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Blue-Eyed Grasses need moderate to regular waterings during their active growing and blooming seasons (spring and summertime), with less waterings as they fade and enter dormancy in winter. Their roots need to stay dry over their dormancy.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Deadhead spent flowering stems when blooms fade (unless you will be collecting seeds for propagation later on). Deadheading will help to discourage self-seeding and the spreading of plant clumps. Leave all foliage on plants until it completely dies back so that underground roots can collect as much energy as possible for the next year's growing season. Every so often to maintain good plant health, these flowers will need to be divided, especially if they are being grown in a cramped garden area or a container. For instructions on how to successfully divide Sisyrinchium flowers, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Sisyrinchium, or Blue Eyed Grass, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Blue Eyed Grasses, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sisyrinchium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Sisyrinchium seeds will need a period of cold-stratification in order to germinate. To complete this process, first place seeds in a bag or other sealable container filled with moistened sand or peat moss. Then, place the container in the refrigerator (or similarly cool, dark space) for 2-3 months. The ideal temperature for cold-stratification is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. After this period has passed, remove seeds from the container.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 7 and 14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Sysyrinchium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall, and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.