
Contrary to its common name, blue eyed grass, Sisyrinchium bellum, is not a grass at all, but is like a diminutive iris. The modern cultivars that are more commonly found in nurseries are somewhat more colorful than the wild plants that are native to coastal areas between about Santa Barbara and Portland. Yet, even these are rather subdued, with small half inch wide blue or light purple flowers delicately suspended above bluish grassy foliage that may be as low as only a few inches, and is rarely higher than a foot. They bloom best in sunny but not too hot areas. Once established, blue eyed grass is not too demanding, but naturalizes and slowly spreads more reliably if watered occasionally through summer. However, they can rot if watered too generously or too frequently.
I love our blue-eyed grasses. Your post reminded me of the day I found a naturally white variant of one — such fun!
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White variants seem to be more common with blue flowers, such as lily of the Nile, jacaranda, various lupine. White is my favorite color, so I have no problem with it. When I was a kid, finding white California poppies was like finding four leaf clovers for Irish kids. Of course, there are no blue California poppies.
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