Blue-Eyed Grasses

Blue-Eyed Grasses Overview

Sisyrinchium is a genus containing over 200 annual and rhizomatous perennial species from the iris family, Iridaceae. They are also known as Blue-Eyed Grass. Some species in this genus are semi-evergreen and some species are classified as threatened or endangered. These are not true grasses, but many species in this genus superficially resemble grasses. They have linear to sword-shaped foliage and grow in a clumping fashion, low to the ground. Flowers are produced on stems with ridged outgrowths, termed winged stems. Flowers are arranged either singly or in clusters of 2-8, on equal length stems called umbels, each surrounded by modified leaves called bracts. Blooms are star or cup-shaped in appearance and may be coloured yellow, purple, pink, blue or white.