Blue Eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Blue Eyed Grass or Narrowleaf Blueeyed-Grass can be found from the Florida Keys through eastern Canada and west to Texas. It is in the Iris family and has half inch wide blue flowers with a yellow center.

Beware of the Annual Blue Eyed Grass which is native to South America and can spread throughout your yard. Click here for more info.

It needs fresh water, full sun and constantly moist soil to survive. Plants are in clumps that may be inches to a foot or more wide. They are usually below 12 inches tall.

When found in the wild it is often mixed with Tick Seed, Pineland Petunia, Pineland Pinklet, Largeflower Rosegentian (Marsh Pink), Silkgrass, Florida Lily and Creeping Charlie.

In the garden you can combine it with the above and Prairie Iris, Yellow Canna, American Crinum Lily, Browne’s Savory, Glade Lobelia, Marsh Fern, Little Blue Stem and other wetland species.

I have seen wet medians that were covered with Narrowleaf Blueeyed Grass in bloom. The dark blue flowers made an eye catching display. Too bad they only bloom in the spring and not all year long.

So instead of dumping fill to level the low wet areas of your yard, try planting with Blue Eyed Grass and other wetland species to create a wonderful wet prairie. Cypress, Pondapple, Buttonbush, Red Maple and Sweetbay Magnolia trees make a nice background on the north side.

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