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Saturday, April 24, 2010

SISYRINCHIUM, The blue eyed grass

Blue eyed grass belongs to the large genus Sisyrinchium. All have narrow grass like leaves and for a while I used to call this plant blue iris grass. It really doesn't have a blue eye so how this name came about I have no idea. Although this plant is a perennial, I have found it to be short lived. No matter because it sows its seeds freely and once in the garden you will have it for life. In fact it can become a little weedy on bare ground. The original of these plants came from ones growing in my native areas. Now I have more inside the walls than out there. Deer don't seem browse.

This little clump seeded, along with a dahlberg daisy, at the foot of the steps leading from the vegetable garden.

Here with daisy fleabane, Erigeron.

Popping up in the middle of a skullcap.

A fitting companion for the blue Festuca glauca.

The blackfoot daisy doesn't mind having her as a companion because the narrow leaves don't interfere with sunlight.
The flowers do not open until later in the day when suddenly a clump of grassy leaves burst into flower.

6 comments:

  1. I love these little guys. There are a lot of them, in the grove behind our house.

    Do they transplant well? I'd like to move some into my one of my beds.

    Thanks for the info.
    ~~Linda...

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  2. pretty flower. I wonder if I planted this all over my yard if the HOA would stop complaining about the need to mow. :)

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  3. Blue-eyed grass - that's a new one, and it looks beautiful mixed in with the daisies and fescue.

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  4. patchwork-I have had success with transplanting them when they are very tiny but the best thing to do is just collect the seeds and put them where you want them to grow.
    Katina-How about buffalo grass. you don't need to mow that.
    Ruth- That is what I like about gardening too- all the little surprises. It does, however, make for a lot more work. Especially around now when I need to be pulling out the poppies.
    PAm- Yes, it's a beauty and when other flowers are looking peaky in the late afternoon, blue eyed grass is just coming to life.

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  5. Thanks, Jenny.
    I think I'll try to transplant some..AND, collect some seeds.

    The info from the Wildflower Center site, says this has no deer resistance. But, they don't seem to be eating them here.

    I don't think I'll ever figure out the deer.

    Thanks again,
    ~~Linda...

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  6. I've had the best time this morning looking at the beautiful photographs of your yard and garden. It's always inspiring to visit your site. You live amid such prettiness. I just discovered blue-eyed grass (not a grass, no blue "eyes"....who names these things?) this spring. Mine are sort of lost in the grass but I"m going to have to go out today and see if I can find any seedheads to sow in other places. :-)

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