Close-up of Sisyrinchium idahoense, Blue-eyed grass flower. Another stunning Northwest Native Plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of Sisyrinchium idahoense, Blue-eyed grass flower. Another stunning Northwest Native Plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of Sisyrinchium idahoense, Blue-eyed grass flower. Another stunning Northwest Native Plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A field of Sisyrinchium idahoense, Blue-eyed grass. Another stunning Northwest Native Plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Blue-eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium idahoense var. idahoense

  • Size at maturity: 8-12" tall, 6-12" wide
  • Canopy layer: groundcover
  • Light requirements: full sun, part-sun/part-shade
  • Moisture requirements: moist to wet soil
  • Special features: 

This plant is not a true grass but has a grass-like appearance as it is low-growing with long, thin leaves. They often grow on grasslands and resemble iris, a close relative. The flower is a deep bluish-purple to blue-violet and rarely white. The fruit is a dry dark or pale-brown capsule with one to several seeds in a locule. It blooms from March to May and is quite variable. (EMSWCD, 2019)

Photo Credit 1 & 4: "Sisyrinchium idahoense" by Matt Lavin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo Credits 2 & 3: Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

Back to Groundcovers, Grasses and Wildflowers