NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Narrowleaf Blue-eyed grass

Scientific Name:	Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Genus:	Sisyrinchium
Species Epithet:	angustifolium
Common Name:	Narrowleaf Blue-eyed grass
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Iridaceae (Iris Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	1-3 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Blue
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist
Bloom Time:	March, April, May, June, July
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Woodlands, forests, meadows, sandhill swales. Common throughout NC.
Leaf Arrangement:	Basal
Leaf Retention:	Semi-evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Has some wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Some sources note that roots should be divided every two years. If it dries out it will decline. Some indication that this plant has branched stems while Common Blue-eyed Grass (S. montanum) has single stems.
Plant in early Spring In early spring it resembles a weedy grass - that light flat open center. Look more closely, you can see the iris characteristics. Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Blooms The tiny blooms are hard to photograph. Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Closeup of a Bloom Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Seed Pod The plants seed readily and come up everywhere, which may be nicer than some delicate creature that needs constant nurturing. Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
In the Garden Used in a garden setting, it is an attractive spring border. Black Mountain © MB Baumeister
Usually one to two flowers on the distally branched inflorescence and long flower pedicels Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Close-up of large, vigorous clump. garden in Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Flora of North America