SISYRINCHIUM

Iris relatives with narrow, grasslike leaves and small, six-segmented flowers that open in sunshine. The blossoms are pretty up close but not showy from a distance. Best suited for informal gardens or naturalizing; small types are good in rock gardens. Easy to start from seed; will self-sow. Not usually browsed by deer.

common blue-eyed grass

sisyrinchium angustifolium

• Zones US, MS, LS, CS, TS; USDA 6-11.
• Native to North America.
• Grows 618 inches tall, 6 inches wide, with dark green leaves and clusters of 12 inches blue blossoms in summer.
• Lucerne is 810 inches tall and bears large, bright blue flowers over a long period; 'Mrs.
• Spivey', with pure white blooms, may reach 212 feet tall.
• Suwanee, which may be a hybrid, is a compact grower to about 8 inches tall; vigorous and adaptable, with a profusion of sky-blue flowers.
• Moderate to regular water.

atlantic blue-eyed grass

sisyrinchium atlanticum

• Zones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8.
• Native to eastern U.S. Violet-blue flowers with yellow centers are carried on slender, wiry, branched stems that range in height from 4 inches to 212 feet tall.
• Plants reach 68 inches wide.
• Pale grayish green leaves.
• Blooms from late spring into early summer.
• Regular water.

argentine yellow-eyed grass

sisyrinchium striatum

• Zones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9.
• Native to Chile, Argentina.
• To 3 feet tall, 1 feet wide, with attractive gray-green leaves.
• In spring, produces spikelike clusters of many 12 inches flowers in pale yellow streaked with brown; blooms well into summer if old flower clusters are removed (if you don't remove them, you may have hordes of unwanted seedlings the next year).
• Leaves of 'Aunt May' ('Variegatum') are striped with creamy yellow.
• Moderate water.

mexican yellow-eyed grass

sisyrinchium tinctorium

• Zones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9.
• From Mexico and South America.
• To 1 feet high and wide.
• Narrow, blue-green leaves; light yellow, 34 inches flowers from early spring into summer.
• Puerto Yellow has bright yellow blossoms.
• Moderate to regular water.