Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Sisyrinchium montanum (Strict blue-eyed grass)
Smith, R.W.

Sisyrinchium montanum Greene

Strict blue-eyed grass, Mountain blue-eyed grass, Common blue-eyed grass

Iridaceae (Iris Family)

USDA Symbol: SIMO2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A grass-like plant, forming small clumps. Leaves are mostly basal, linear and bright green. Six-petaled, violet-blue, starlike flowers are solitary or in small clusters at the tip of long flowering stalks. Plants grow 6-15 in. tall.

A member of the iris family (family Iridaceae) which consists of herbs growing from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, with narrow basal leaves and showy clusters at the tips of long stalks. There are about 60 genera and 1,500 species, distributed in temperate and tropical regions. Among them, Iris, Freesia, Gladiolus, Bugle Lily, and Montbretia are popular ornamentals. Saffron dye is obtained from Crocus, and essence of violets, used in perfumes, is extracted from the rhizomes of Iris.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , TX , UT , VT , WI , WY
Canada: AB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Que. to B.C., s. to NJ, n. IN, IA, KS & CO
Native Habitat: Moist, sandy meadows & open woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil Description: Sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Grows readily from seed. Blue-eyed grass is not really a grass. It is an unusual member of the iris family because it is native to prairie grasslands, whereas most iris prefer wet lands.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Small perennials & grasses for a naturalized lawn
October 26, 2009
I am looking for native perennials and grasses that will grow no more than 8 inches tall that can be used in a naturalized lawn in Michigan. What 5 plants would be your first choice?
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sisyrinchium montanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sisyrinchium montanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sisyrinchium montanum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-07-03
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back