Blue-eyed grass

A meadow dotted with clumps of this plant, often called blue-eyed grass, is a lovely sight. Where it is hardy, 'Aunt May' has earned its place in more formal settings. Its erect iris-like foliage striped with cream brings a vertical dimension to the border and contrasts with its mostly mounded neighbors. Poor to average soil is suitable for most types; blue-eyed grass thrives in damper conditions, where it self-seeds freely.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

5-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

6-36 inches tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

6-10 inches wide, depending on variety

Flower Color:

White, blue, lavender, yellow flowers, depending on variety; variegated leaves, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms late spring and summer, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Drought Tolerant,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Blue-eyed grass

(Sisyrinchium angustifolium) forms clumps of grassy foot-long leaves. Its winged and branched stems carry small clusters of bright blue flowers, yellow at the throat. Each lasts a single day but there is a succession. Self-seeds freely. Zones 5-8
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Aunt May blue-eyed grass

(Sisyrinchium striatum 'Aunt May') is a clump-former with clean gray green iris-like leaves striped with cream. The pale yellow flowers cluster on 20-inch-tall zig-zag stems. Zones 7-8
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Plant It With

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Lupine

In full sun, pale yellow lupine makes a lovely color echo with cream-flowered Aunt May blue-eyed grass. The fingered lupine leaves contrast well with Aunt May's striped iris-like foliage.

Perennial geranium

The vivid blue flowers and attractive foliage of Johnson's blue geranium provide an excellent foil for the upright variegated foliage and creamy flowers of Aunt May in full sun.

Iris

Grow pretty little blue-eyed grass in front of taller Siberian iris. The flower and foliage size make a great contrast.

Propagation

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Seed
Division