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Sisyrinchium idahoense

Sisyrinchium idahoense E.P. Bicknell

Idaho Blue-eyed Grass

Iridaceae (Iris Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SIID

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Several delicate, blue or deep blue-violet flowers in 2 broad bracts top a flat stem, generally only 1 flower at a time in bloom; stems taller than the clusters of narrow, sword-shaped leaves near base.

One of the most perplexing groups of plants, with many, often intergrading, variants named as species.

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Native Distribution: Throughout.
Native Habitat: Moist places (at least early in the season), generally in the open, from lowlands well into the mountains.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

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

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACW			OBL				FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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