Sisyrinchium bellum
western blue-eyed grass
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Sisyrinchium bellum is a clump-forming perennial in the iris family, growing 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall from a fan of narrow, grass-like leaves. Despite the common name, it is not a grass; the flattened, blue-green leaves are 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide and arise in tufts. From February to May, branched, winged stems carry clusters of star-shaped flowers 0.5-0.7 inch (1.3-1.8 cm) across, deep blue to blue-violet with a yellow throat and pointed, often bristle-tipped tepals. Each flower opens for a day and closes by evening. Native to California and adjoining parts of Oregon and Baja California, S. bellum grows in open grassland, coastal bluffs, and moist meadows that dry through summer. It self-sows readily, and the foliage dies back to a short rhizome during summer dormancy, reappearing with fall and winter rains. The plant is short-lived but maintains itself from seed, and individual clumps may fade after a few years. It tolerates clay and seasonal moisture and is hardy to USDA zone 6.
Native Range
Native to California and adjacent Oregon and Baja California. Grows in open grassland, coastal prairie, vernally moist meadows, and on bluffs below about 7,800 feet (2,400 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in meadow and native plantings, rock gardens, borders, and container displays. Spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart, it forms low spring-flowering tufts among grasses and other wildflowers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Blue to blue-violet with yellow throatFoliage Description
Blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Sisyrinchium bellum grows in full sun to light shade in a range of soils, including clay, across a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It takes moisture in winter and spring and tolerates dry summer dormancy, needing no irrigation once established in its native climate. The plant is hardy to USDA zone 6 and self-sows to maintain a stand. Overhead summer water during dormancy can rot the rhizomes. It has no significant pests. Cutting back tired foliage after seed set tidies the clump.Pruning
No formal pruning is needed. Spent flower stems and yellowing summer foliage can be sheared off to neaten the plant. Dividing clumps in fall every few years keeps them vigorous and spreads the planting.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
