Blue-eyed grass adds color, texture to gardens

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is not a grass, but rather a narrow-leaved member of the Iris family. The genus Sisyrinchium is large and confusing with members native to most of North and South America. The name is derived from the Greek words “sys” and “rynchos” which mean “pig snout,” referring to the plant's sweet-tasting tubers sometimes dug up by foraging pigs.

Often found in moist meadows and swales, low-lying open woods, on stream banks and lake shores, blue-eyed grass grows from rhizomes in dense, tufted, foot-high clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves. It prefers moist to average well-drained soils, in full sun to partial shade.

While the plant is hard to distinguish from various grasses when it is not blooming, the colorful blue to purple flowers with yellow centers tell a different story. In spring or early summer, the blossoms appear slightly above the leaf height. There may be more than one flower on each flower stalk, but they appear singly. Their colorful, cheery look attracts pollinating insects and adds interest in the garden.

Typical of the Iris family, the flowers have six “tepals,” which are actually three petals and three sepals that look the same. This gives the flower the look of six petals in a star pattern. The tepals have prominent veins running lengthwise and may have pointed tips. The yellow center holds yellow stamens (the male part of a flower) and a stigma (the female flower part of a flower that captures pollen grains). After fertilization, a brown capsule forms which splits open releasing seeds later in the summer.

Native peoples ate the cooked leaves, thought to regulate the bowels. The astringent root was made into an infusion to treat diarrhea. An infusion of the leaves was used to treat stomach ailments.

In the garden, blue-eyed grass adds texture and color to moist rock gardens, around water features, such as borders and edgings. It is best in informal settings and mixed with other native plants. There are no significant insect or disease problems with this plant and deer don't particularly like it.

In colder climates, the leaves die back in winter and sprout fresh each spring. In more temperate climates the plant may stay green year round. Cutting back after blooming improves the shape of the tuft and prevents self-seeding. Dividing every 2-3 years keeps the plants strong and vigorous.

Blue-eyed grass grows in the dry meadow habitat of the North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum, 611 S Ella St. in Sandpoint. Pictures and a description are found on page 157 of “Landscaping with Native Plants in the Idaho Panhandle,” a KNPS publication available at local bookstores and the Bonner County History Museum.

Native Plant Notes are created by the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society. To learn more about KNPS and the North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum, visit www.nativeplantsociety.org.